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Letter: Outdoor ban is senseless expectation

The Columbian
Published: December 8, 2011, 4:00pm

I was troubled to hear about Vancouver City Council’s decision to ban cigarette smoking in public parks. Although I’m not someone who smokes, I’m a mother who frequents the local outdoor spaces and can’t understand why this was important. We’re all aware of the dangers of cigarette smoking, but we’re also aware of the dangers of guns — those are still legal in parks.

Many children are allergic to peanuts; are city officials going to ban feeding the squirrels? Do people prefer to see children in a smoke-filled car? I’ve never encountered 30 smokers at the entrance of a park the way I have entering a local restaurant, and I’m not sure who this law is going to benefit. Do we even have enough police to enforce it?

It seems to me this decision was based on anything but common sense. I hope this doesn’t discourage tax-paying citizens who smoke to take their children to the park — last time I checked, smoking was still legal elsewhere. People had better wake up if they want to continue to live in a free society. This isn’t small government — this is unchecked absurdity.

Rebecca Lineham

Vancouver

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