John Foster

Mrs. Anthony

ENG. 101-113

May 7, 2014

“The Topic of the Cigarette Ban”

I am passionate about the topic of the cigarette ban, should cigarettes be banned? I think not because people would find a way to get them anyway, even if it meant manufacturing them on their own. People would do whatever it took to get their cigarettes, just like people in the times of prohibition, got their alcohol when it was made illegal. People should have the freedom of choice, after all America was founded on the principle of freedom for all, but the other side wants to argue that it is bad for our health if that were true then, why have so many people lived past one hundred that are smokers? I found this news from the internet, that in China, Zhang Shuqing turned 100 on May, 7 and in Milan 646 people are all a hundred or better. (Forces The Evidence World's Oldest--All Smokers). Of course this article has many small articles in it, but they all say the same thing and that is all the oldest people, to take note of are all smokers. Now I am not by any means telling anyone to pick up smoking, after all I just said that smoking is a matter of choice, and people should not be aloud to take that freedom away from those who smoke. In short do not let anyone ban cigarettes. 

    The United States Constitution reads as follows. We the People  of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.  (form.)

     Politician  are taking our freedom away one law at a time. People should be free to do whatever they want to do as long as it does not hurt anyone. On the other side you have those who say that smoking is the leading cause of cancer, bronchitis, asthma, C.O.P, and emphysema. This report from the internet is just one example of what researchers say.

    Stopping smoking can reduce your risk lung cancer. A large number of studies have shown that stopping smoking can greatly reduce the risk of smoking-related cancers. 2 And the earlier you stop the better. The last results from the Doctors’ Studies  show that stopping smoking at 50 halved the excess risk of cancer overall, while stopping at 30 avoided almost all of it. 11

However, it’s never too late to quit. One study found that even people who quit in their sixties can experience health benefits and gain valuable years of life. 31

The effects of stopping vary depending on the cancer. For example, ten years after stopping, a person’s risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker. 32 And the increased oral and laryngeal cancer risks practically disappear within ten years of stopping. 2 But the risks of bladder cancer are still higher than normal 20 years after stopping. 21 (Tobacco, smoking and cancer: the evidence)

                  This article was comprised of several smaller articles all telling how bad smoking is and how all smokers should quit. Although as a smoker who is trying to quit I believe, it still all boils down our freedom of choice, we all have it, and we should enjoy it while, we still have it. What I am saying is that let those who want to smoke, smoke, and those who do not need to leave them alone.  

Works Cited

Forces The Evidence World's Oldest--All Smokers. n.d. 18 october 2013. <http://www.forces.org/evidence/hamilton/other/oldest.htm>.

form., The following text is a transcription of the Constitution in its original. The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription. n.d. 22 october 2013. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html>.

Head, tom. h. n.d. <http://civilliberty.about.com/od/drugpolicy/i/cigarettes_ban_2.htm>.

Head, Tom. Should Cigsrettes Be Banned. n.d. 13 september 2013. <http://civilliberty.about.com/od/drugpolicy/i/cigarettes_ban_2.htm>.

Singer, Peter. Should We Ban Cigarettes. 11 November 2011. 13 september 2013. <http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/should-we-ban-cigarettes>.

—. Should We Ban Cigarettes. 11 November 2011. 13 September 2013. <http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/should-we-ban-cigarettes>.

Tobacco, smoking and cancer: the evidence. n.d. 22 october 2013. <http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/smokingandtobacco/howdoweknow/#Deaths>.