Regardless of location, everyone deserves to have certain liberties. As long as these liberties do not impede upon the liberties or safety of others, then they should be exercised within reason. Everyone has a right to choose which risks they will take and which they will not. Smoking poses safety, environmental, and social consequences. Because everyone deserves the right to choose which consequences and health hazards they want to be exposed to, all outdoor public smoking on the National Mall should be banned.
The safety hazard that public smoking poses is second hand smoke. Because of the wind and elements that outdoor smokers are exposed to, outdoor smoking in public places causes drifting smoke …show more content…
Their right to smoke is not being taken away by a ban on outdoor public smoking on the National Mall. While certainly everyone has the right to expose themselves to whatever hazard they would like to, be it cigarettes, alcohol, or even illegal drugs, no one has the right to present someone else with hazards without their consent. Yes, everyone has the right to choose whether or not they will smoke. However, those that are exposed to second hand smoke in public places do not have the right to choose. Smoking in a private setting is acceptable as exposure for others is made when they choose to stay and exposure is limited. Typically in bars or taverns where smoking may be allowed, children are not allowed …show more content…
There are some parents who are smokers and it is still their choice whether they choose to expose their children to it, not the choice of others. However, as a student visitor to the National Mall, not only is a choice not given to go on a field trip (because a grade may be pending an assignment that this trip completes) on which second hand smoke exposure could happen, but the impression that is left is long lasting. Ultimately, parents should be able to choose what they want to expose their children to. Banning public smoking on the National Mall would help parents control what they expose their impressionable children