Smoking Ban in New Orleans - SSR

This past Tuesday night, New Orleans City Council passed a law that banned smoking in most places all throughout the city. This included bars, casinos, and restaurants. According to this article, many of the restaurant owners feared that the smokey atmosphere would affect the singers and entertainers that performed for these certain places. These bars, casinos, and restaurants didn't want their waiters and musicians to work in such a bad atmosphere. The ban was put into affect on Wednesday, right before all the jazz fests and Mardi Gras celebrations that attract so many tourists.

The vote for the ban of smoking across these attractions in the great city of New Orleans was unanimous, meaning every member of the City Council thought it was necessary. Nonetheless, Harrah's New Orleans and bar owners filed a lawsuit to stop the ban, and a hearing is scheduled in state court in a month. Regardless of the lawsuit, fines start at $50 for anyone smoking within these casinos, restaurants, and bars.

I myself agree with the New Orleans City Council regarding the smoking ban. I believe that smoking in public places is very distracting, harmful, and rude. This ban can be a step forward in the completely abolishing smoking in public. Especially since it occurred in such a large and recognized city, it could set an example for other cities across our nation. Many citizens find that smokers who practice their harmful habits in public places tend to be a nuisance, so New Orleans taking this step toward no smoking environments is an enormous step. 

Why is smoking in public places such an important topic? Smoking alone causes cancer within the lungs, bladder, throat and mouth, kidneys, cervix, and pancreas. Smoking is linked to about 90% of all lung cancer in the United States, and almost one third of deaths from coronary heart disease is linked to smoking or secondhand smoke. On average, a smoker dies 10 years before a nonsmoker, and it is the most preventable death in the United States. About 54% of American children between 3-11 years old are exposed to secondhand smoke. This are only a few of the statistics proving that smoking is one of the most harmful things on this planet. Too many people die from the horrible habit, so the fact that New Orleans is making this stance is a huge improvement. We can all, as cities, towns, states, and even as a whole nation, can put an end this this tyranny. Too many citizens, especially children who have their who lives to look forward to, are exposed to secondhand smoke, causing many diseases within our internal organs. Let's go forth off of the actions of the New Orleans City Council, and start making huge adaptions and changes to the smoking habitats of our nation. More and more nonsmoking environments need to be established, making this nation smoke free, and a more promising place to live for our youth.