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Should NH Ban Smoking with Kids in Cars? (1241 responses; 3/3/15)
By Jacquelyn Benson
Is smoking in cars with minor children a crime, a parent's right, or simply a bad idea? That's the question raised by a bill currently being considered by the NH Senate (SB 162), which would make the practice a secondary offense, subject to a $100 fine. On March 3rd, the Live Free or Die Alliance (LFDA) put the question to its 50,000 Facebook members, sparking a passionate debate.
Answers to the question, “Do you support or oppose a bill that would make smoking in cars with children a secondary offense?” resulted in a close split. A slight 55% majority of those who answered the question weighed in against the bill, with 45% in favor. Twenty percent of the total respondents opted not to give a yes or no response, instead addressing their comments to broader issues. In sum, the LFDA received 431 specific comments and 810 concurrences for a total of 1241 responses.
Most of those opposed to the bill argued that, while they disapproved of the practice, it should not be made illegal. “While I agree that you should not expose children to second hand smoke , I believe the state has much better and more important issues to address,” one respondent said. “We need fewer laws and more common sense,” noted another. Some commenters argued that such laws constituted a “slippery slope” that could lead to government intervention in other realms that should remain an individual's choice.
Those in favor of the bill argued that, as children were unable to protect themselves from the ill effects of secondhand smoke, it was the government's responsibility to step in. “If someone is smoking with kids in the car, then those kids need a law telling the adult to not smoke,” a respondent said. “It's too bad we have to have a law for something so obvious,” argued another. Some commenters went further, calling for the practice to be made a first offense or for smoking around children in any location to be banned.
Broader comments on the question ranged from citing similar laws in neighboring states, to expressing general disapproval of smoking around children without voicing an opinion on the proposed law. “It may be legal, but it's not fair to the child,” one commenter noted.
The nonprofit, nonpartisan LFDA takes no position on this or any issue, as this report is presented as a summary of citizen testimony. As New Hampshire’s Virtual Town Hall, the LFDA community, numbering over 58,000, provides objective information on state issues, promotes the civil exchange of opinions, and communicates views to elected officials. To learn more about this issue or the LFDA, visit www.LFDA.org.
Jacquelyn Benson is an Editor with the Live Free or Die Alliance.
Live Free or Die Alliance
www.livefreeordiealliance.org
Source: http://townhall.livefreeordiealliance.org/xn/detail/4091641:BlogPost:70373
