In today's society smoking is the new drug. People are trying to ban it permanently. The only places to smoke comfortably is in your own home. Smokers are treated differently than nonsmokers. There are several advertisements, and commercials making the public aware of second hand smoke. People who smoke are putting the other people around them in danger. Smokers should be held responsible for their actions, and segregated from nonsmokers.
There are several laws that protect the rights of nonsmokers. These laws regulate where smokers make smoke. Such as the clean indoor air act. One website describes this act as a law to protect the public from toxic chemicals in second hand smoke by restricting where smoking is permitted in public places, restaurants, and places of employment ("Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About Smoking Restrictions Designed to Protect Public the Health"). This law protects the rights of nonsmokers, and ask that smokers go outside of public places to smoke. Nonsmokers around smokers put themselves at a greater risk for health problems. .
There are several commercials, and advertisements encouraging nonsmokers to protest against smokers. Stanley Scott says, " This year, for example, the American Cancer Society is promoting programs that encourage people to attack smokers with canisters of gas, to blast them with horns, to squirt them with oversized water guns, and burn them in effigy" (138). This is persuading nonsmokers to take a stand against a smokers. Yes smoking has decreased in the past couple of years. A website said 27% of Americans smoke (1991) versus 29% in 1987 and 44% in 1964 ("Smoking Statistics"). Although the number of people smoking has lowered, the amount of cigarettes smokers have consumed has risen. The website also says the percentage of heavy smokers is 27% (1987) versus 26% (1974) ("Smoking Statistics"). This makes nonsmokers angry because the people who are smoking consume more cigarettes.
