You Might As Well Light Up, Kids!

Explaining her support for a ban on smoking in cars carrying small children, part of a bill the California Senate approved on Monday, state Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) claimed "children are effectively smoking a pack and a half a day for every hour they are exposed to smoke in a car." So if a 6-year-old travels a half-hour each way to and from school, during which time his mother smokes a total of, say, half a dozen cigarettes, he might as well be smoking a pack and a half? He'd be better off smoking a whole pack by himself than he is riding in a car with someone else who is smoking? This sort of nonsense, rather than emphasizing the hazards of secondhand smoke, implies that the risks of a pack-a-day cigarette habit are barely worth worrying about.

[via The Rest of the Story]

Comments

[val]

Hot damn, smokers can save oodles of cash that way. They split on a pack, then have one guy smoke in the car while the rest get their buzz on with the amazing multiplying nicotine. Or or each one of the four passengers smokes 6 cigs or so, and they actually end up smoking an equivalent of 6 packs. MMMMM, Im in Flavour country.

[val]

Hot damn, smokers can save oodles of cash that way. They split on a pack, then have one guy smoke in the car while the rest get their buzz on with the amazing multiplying nicotine. Or or each one of the four passengers smokes 6 cigs or so, and they actually end up smoking an equivalent of 6 packs. MMMMM, Im in Flavour country.

[stonerollins]

I've been told that one average size cigar equals a carton of cigarettes. Whatta bargain!!!

[NoStar]

I remember reading that Chicago is America's fattest city (the city with the most overweight population.) Perhaps they should outlaw eating in public?

[Aresen]

As long as they don't talk while they eat (blech!), they can eat in public.

[Todd]

See, this is where technology should be part of the solution. They should invent some kind of retractable panel on the side of car the child sits on, so that fresh air could get in. Even better, a similar retractable panel near the driver/smoker so that the noxious fumes can escape. Well, scientists and engineers, how about it?

[hardcore mothafucka]

This...implies that the risks of a pack-a-day cigarette habit are barely worth worrying about.

They're not.

[TrickyVic]

We can expect more of these kind of laws in the future unless there is some sort of backlash. Political party is irrelevent, a Dem is pushing it in California, a Republian is pushing it in Arkansas.

I think the tobacco companies should threaten to not sell, or distribute, in states with or considering such laws. Shaking up tax revenues will make the states nervous and second guess these types of actions.

[MTguy]

Todd,
Such a panel would obstruct vision. Unless it could be made out of a transparent substance... Nah, it'd never work.

[Zach]

I've been told that one average size cigar equals a carton of cigarettes. Whatta bargain!!!

God bless cigars.

[marcus aurelius]

The exaggerations and lies by the pro-smoking ban activists are not only catching up to them, but will create a backlash that will end the cycle of unnecessary smoking bans.

And testing like this by the American Cancer Society doesn't help their cause either:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

[Rick Barton]

Jacob:

This sort of nonsense, rather than emphasizing the hazards of secondhand smoke, implies that the risks of a pack-a-day cigarette habit are barely worth worrying about.

Yep. Many good causes are harmed by the idiotic pronouncements of allies.

[Happy Jack]

Now would be a good time to bring back the rumble seat.

[hanmeng]

That smoke is deadly! You could also consider tying the kids to the roof of the car.

[Zach]

America, what a country!