The government banned smoking in all public housing places for its residents back in 2017. It was ultimately for the safety and health of all residents living in these places, but it violates peoples' freedom to do what they please in their own home. I read the Room for Debate, "Is It Fair to Ban Public Housing Tenants From Smoking?" which debates if smoking should be banned in public housing complexes or not. One of the debaters, Ritchie Torres, was skeptical at first about the ban, but he realized that it would improve peoples' health. He explains, "Claiming 12,000 lives every year in New York City alone, tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable disease and death." With this ban in place, it can reduce the amount, but not by a lot because most people won't quit and will still smoke in public and in other places. On the other hand, the other debater, Tony Marcano, claims that smoking should be banned in common public areas but not in the home. He says that it is targeting peoples' privacy to smoke in a home that they live in and pay for. Should smoking be banned for public housing residents? If so, why or why not? Does the ban really improve peoples' health and safety? Will it reduce the number of deaths in America? I look forward to seeing your responses!
Hi Devin!
ReplyDeleteAlthough it may seem unfair to ban smoking, I think it is ultimately for the best to ban it in housing complexes. Just like other drugs like cocaine are banned smokeing should be too. Sure it doesn't pose the exact same risks, but it is a slow killer and increases the liklihood of lung cancer and other cancers spreading through your body. Allowing smoking in housing complexes can also be dangerous because second hand smoke can travel through air ducts and affect unsuspecting residents. Yes it may seem extreme to ban smoking but it really is beneficial to people's health, some things are worth the sacrifice for common and individual health, even if specific people don't want to believe it.
Smoking should be banned in public housing. Smokers generally know the risk they’re taking, but it can be detrimental to the health of other non-smokers, especially if people with respiratory issues are in the vicinity. People have a choice whether they want to smoke, but it shouldn’t affect others who choose not to smoke. A smoking ban would also encourage healthier habits and discourage children in picking up harmful habits. This ban may impose on people’s privacy or personal decisions, so as a balance, perhaps the ban should come with designated smoking areas, where smokers can do as they please without putting others at risk. Another balance to this would be to prohibit tobacco companies from marketing their products across the board as tobacco advertising disproportionately focuses on low-income communities.
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