Smoking Ban Commentary

Scott Holleran (“Smoking Ban Violates Everyone’s Rights,” Commentary, June 1) fails to understand the democratic process. Voters elect representatives who propose, debate and vote on legislation that represents the views of the voters. Voters turn out and replace representatives who do not behave in this way. By definition, such laws do not “violate the rights of every individual.” Voters have elected representatives to enact laws that promote public safety. By definition, such laws are in the public good. There are speed limits on roads and restrictions concerning the discharge of pollutants. Cigarette smoke is a pollutant. Laws empower the police, the courts and other officials to use force to enforce laws.

Mr. Holleran seems to have forgotten who government or “the state” is. The “state” is those public servants who work for the rest of us to administer the laws as voted by the representatives we all elected. It is no more. One of the “inalienable rights protected by government” is the right to expect all persons to observe laws, even while encouraging changes in laws.

Mr. Holleran suggests that each person has the right to behave in the manner which suits him, with no regard for others. Were that the case, there would be no need for any laws. Laws define what behaviors are in the public interest, but more often, define what behaviors are not in the public interest.

In the case of cigarette smoke, the public has voted for the right to be free of the hazard of cigarette smoke in buildings. That is the deal. There may be some debate in some community, certainly not in the medical community, about the non-hazards of cigarette smoke. Nonetheless, the public has voted for a certain standard of perceived safety, and until it votes again to change that standard, smoke free is the deal.

DAVID E. WILBUR

Westlake Village

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I thought Scott Holleran’s commentary was very well spoken. I completely agree with him that banning smoking is just the beginning of taking our rights away one by one. Free human beings have the right to do with their bodies as they please, and no one should be able to tell them not to smoke, drink, etc. It is our right to choose for ourselves how we are going to live and what we are going to do.

EVAN FISCHER

Downey