Spunky Homeschool

Bad Law vs Bad Parenting

Jul. 1, 2006 at 11:47 AM

Politics

The state of California wants to fine parents who smoke in the car with small children.

One day after the U.S. Surgeon General released the most ****ing study yet on secondhand smoke, a state Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow police to stop drivers guilty of puffing in the confines of their car when a child passenger is secured in a safety seat.

There's no excuse in today's society for any mother of any age, or any level of education, to do something which I consider akin to child abuse," said Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, chair of the Senate Health Committee, which approved the measure.

As much as I deplore cigarette smoke, I hate the thought of the government regulating the personal lives of its citizens even more. Bad parenting is not a good excuse to destroy our freedoms and the right to privacy.

(HT: Joanne Jacobs)

6 Comments and Trackbacks

posted by tbird on Jul. 1, 2006 at 3:13 PM

it does seem a little odd doesn't it! I know we should all *know* not to smoke (let alone smoke near kiddies) but it all feels like Big Brother is just 10 years late arriving really. There has been a law passed in the UK about smoking in the workplace that now means that delivery drivers have to leave their vans to light up as they are considered a place of work and you aren't allowed to smoke at work.

But maybe the real question is if smoking is so evil why is it legal at all...... (ducks and runs for cover!)

posted by spunkyhomeschool on Jul. 1, 2006 at 3:19 PM

I agree this is a legal activity being fined. If it's so bad, make it illegal.

posted by AcceptanceWithJoy on Jul. 1, 2006 at 9:50 PM

Horrible law being advocated by people that have fully bought in to the belief that it is the government's job to fix everything! Besides, it won't work! With all the evidence of the dangers inherent in second hand smoke, parents who continue to smoke in their children's presence will not be influenced by a mere law. They will move their act out of the public eye.

posted by on Jul. 1, 2006 at 11:16 PM

I can't see it every being made illegal...there is far too much money in it. The taxes on cigarettes and the lobby of "Big Tobacco" allone will keep it legal. Please don't take this as me condoning smoking in any way, but the misrepresentations of the research isn't helping any.

<a href="http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2006/06/surgeon-generals-report-publicity.html">an interesting link</a>

As he alludes to and one of his commentors expands upon, car exhaust is at least as deadly. Why aren't we in a fervor over it? And how can we decide that a nonsmoker who develops lung cancer did so from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke rather than the exhaust fumes from his own car...this past winter a child died while strapped in a carseat. I can't remember if it was a boy or a girl, but mom and dad left the car running while shoveling the drive to keep the child warm. And s/he died of carbon monoxide poinsoning. That wouldn't have happened from second hand smoke inhalation.


Edited by gottsegnet on Jul. 1, 2006 at 8:25 PM

posted by gottsegnet on Jul. 1, 2006 at 11:26 PM

I forgot that when you edit a comment the code doesn't come up. Here is the link, again:

an interesting link

posted by Anonymous on Nov. 24, 2006 at 10:58 AM

If Second Hand Smoke is child abuse, how about outlawing it all together. If it is bad for the children, then it is bad for the adults too.

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