Smoking Cigarretes Should Be Illegal.

Smoker's Health I will first like to know how my facts are out of context. Secondly, most deaths are preventable. For example, people who die in car crashes, they shouldn't have driven cars maybe they would have survived. People who overdose shouldn't have taken that many drugs. But, are we going to make everything that can kill us illegal? No! We all take a risk. So we are responsible for our actions. Those chemicals (Cyanide, Arsenic, Ammonia, Cadmium, Carbon Monoxide and Benzene) may cause some diseases, but for most diseases it requires more than that. Go to my first source to the 4th paragraph for examples of what I mean.(1) Your first source does not specify whether those people were smokers or non-smokers. So, we can't really take those statistics. A smoker's immune system can actually react against viruses faster than a non-smoker's immune system. The only thing is that the immune system is not as strong resulting in those sick-days. Every day in the United States 151,650 people die[2], out of those deaths only 1,215 are smokers[3]. That comes out to be 0.8% of all deaths. So you can't blame smoking as the main reason why people die. Nobody really knows when you are going to die. I could die tomorrow who knows. Some die really young, while others die old. So we cannot rely on those facts that smoking will shorten your life because you don't even know if the smoker would have lived longer if they didn't smoke. Non-Smoker's Health Are you saying that all smokers except a selected few don't care about non-smokers? That is not necessarily true. Maybe they are fed up of people saying "Smoking will kill you." Don't you think they've heard about all those warnings about smoking. After all, they have people constantly telling them and several campaigns out there. Your third article says nothing about kids wit bronchitis or pneumonia so I cannot believe the amount of children. However, for those children with bronchitis and pneumonia I believe it is the parent's fault. So, they should suffer the consequences for their actions. You have a freedom of speech, so complain to the owner of the business to put a designated smoking area. I'm pretty sure he will listen. If he doesn't and it bothers you that much, quit your job and look for another job with a designated smoking area. It's your choice to leave. How do they know they got lung cancer from 2nd hand-smoke? They could get lung cancer from the following: Exposure to radon gas Exposure to certain chemicals Air pollution Previous lung disease A family history of lung cancer Past cancer treatment Previous smoking related cancers Lowered immunity (Found in source 4) Freedom of Choice I didn't mean to ignore that other argument and I apologize for that. You are stating that freedom of choice has restrains or limits. You can only take so much before controversy begins. Secondly, I will like to know the connection between slavery and cigarettes? Finally, people have the freedom to accept or deny certain rights. So, let us follow my opponents example of slavery, if a person wants to put themselves in slavery, hey must accept the responsibilities and take the consequences of what you have done. It reminds me of a quote by Bo Bennett,"Think before you act...". Prohibition As I stated before, we can't make everything that can kill us(like driving, and alcohol) illegal. Or else we have to make everything illegal. Youth and Cigarettes The youth sees everything that you do bad a cool. (I would know I still have more years to go). So, when they see somebody their age smoking or drinking, they want to do it too. No matter how dangerous it may be. That law has no effect in public schools. I walked around and saw a group of teenagers smoking out in the parking lot. Some TV shows(like Degrassi) even show a group of teenagers doing crack out in the parking lot. So, wouldn't you think teenagers will do the same when it comes to smoking? Model It has nothing to do with prohibition. I'm stating how some smokers see smoking as a way to relax or reduce stress, when in reality it is a placebo(a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine.). I also stated that if we ban smoking, smokers will find a way to make a replica cigarette. They have already made 2 that I know of. Sources 1 http://www.ljdiaz.com...... 2 http://www.shanesworld.ca... 3 http://www.livestrong.com... 4 http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk... I thank my opponent for accepting this debate. -Alex