Once upon a time, smoking in public was a thing. Those who do smoke might think longingly about the good old days when a person could light up after their meal because they in the smoking section. People like me—I get a headache from cigarette smoke—had to put up with the smoke because let’s be real about it, cigarette smoke does not billow and stay around just those that are doing the smoking. That’s why second-hand smoke is a thing. And people like me had to put up with second-hand smoke because others didn’t want to go outside or wait until later to do their smoking. I will grant that is a person is of legal age and wants to smoke, that it their right. But what about my right to not smoke?
According to the CDC, approximately 2.5 million people have died from second-hand smoke since 1964 (CDC). That number may be astonishing to everyone. It certainly was to me. I took a moment to find a second source, the American Lung Association, that had the same number of deaths (ALA). When I did the math that equated to almost 45,000 people dying each year from complications of second-hand smoke. So if you are a smoker, you have the right to smoke. I have no problem with you smoking in your own space. But does your right as a smoker give you the right to participate in 45,000 deaths annually? Someone is going to say that I am being harsh. Fine. I’ll accept that. But I still stand with the concept—if you are smoking in public, you are part of a massive number of deaths each year. There’s a reason that smoking in public places was banned in Ohio back in 2007 (the vote was in 2006). It passed 58% yes to the ban to 41% no to the ban (ballot info here). That’s not overwhelming, but it is a sizable margin that says if you want to smoke and damage your body/kill yourself, please do so at home.
Now how is the current pandemic any different? Vulnerable populations are dying. Minority populations are dying at a frightening rate from this virus. According to reports on NBC news, 70% of the deaths from COVID 19 in both Chicago and Louisiana have occurred in minority communities/populations. Nursing homes have been slammed with deaths. To repeat, the MOST vulnerable among us are dying at substantially higher rates than the rest of the population. Even with that, many young and healthy people are catching this virus and ending up in a refrigerated truck because there is not enough morgue space. Just check out the stories coming out of New York right now.
So how is this an analogy? Some people say, “I’m healthy. Let me go back to work or play. I’m not worried.” What if you take the virus with you everywhere, which you would if you caught it, and then the others you exposed to your virus—second-hand if you will—end up paying the price for your choice. Why are you allowed to choose for everyone else? It’s not like this virus will simply play nice and stay in your body if you are contagious. So let’s be smart about things. Stay home. Don’t give out second-hand virus. It is likely to kill someone you know or care about.