Smokers

Are you kidding me? Does the fact that one year things are bad for you and the next they are not ring a bell with anyone? How do we explain people who have asthma and yet were never exposed to cig. smoke? Or Lung cancer? I think that smoking is the latest band wagon and everyone is jumping on! Dont get me wrong it is addictive and I wish I could quit but I also think the craze has gone way to far! I also wonder at the "studies". Anyone remember when eggs were demonized? Or Pork? But now they are good for us? Also agree on the polution and exhaust, what if they find that is the real culprit?

Smoking has been around for hundreds of years, lots of people smoke, everyone I know smokes, I think its unfair that out of all the bad things people do around their kids and to their kids this is the one thing people seem to go for all the time. I smoke, my husband smokes, we have 4 kids. I sit on my back doorstep in all weathers to smoke because I do not like the idea of my children breathing in my direct smoke fumes. But then we walk along the street and they directly breathe in the fumes from a cars exhaust, so I would say that this is just as bad. Yes I agree that smoking around anyone who does not smoke, and not giving them the choice of having it around them or not is selfish and bad, but not bad enough to be charged with child abuse.

Well, I think if people want to charge smoking parents with child abuse. We should charge any parent that takes there child to any fast food place from McDonalds to that pizza place with a rat for abuse, because the parent is helping the child become fat and bad eating habits. Any parent that buys there kid a game system should be charged with abuse because it's teaching a child that they don't have to get up and go play, so they sit all day and get fat. So many things in this world right now is not good for our kids, that we could be charged with child abuse if only the laws was passed.

I am old. Both of my parents smoked so my brother and I were exposed to it all of our lives. Remember, this was back when smoking was accepted by society. My brother never did smoke but I started shortly after high school. He is alergic to almost everything on the planet and I have no problems in that area. Back then we wern't even told to quit smoking while pregnant. I think we are carrying these cautions too far now. Smoking is very bad for you and I do wish I had never started, but suffered no ill effects from exposure.

I don't think parents should be charged with child abuse for smoking around their kids... if they're going to start doing that then they should just make smoking illegal altogether. Things like that are an attack on peoples freedom of choice. Here in Australia it is now illegal to smoke within 30 metres of a shopping centre entrance... and smokers are not permitted to smoke under shelter either. Really, I think that is taking things too far. Smokers should be permitted to smoke under cover as long as the area is well ventilated. I wonder what the government will do when smokers start suing them because they've received skin cancer from smoking without shelter.

yes something should be done.how can a parent smoke infront of kids,thats horrible .i am a parent and i smoke but never with my kids around,i go outside.they are trying to pass a law now in ontario for poeple cannot smoke in their vehicle with children in it,its a start i guess.

Ok lets charge them with abuse. Then lets charge every parent that exposes their kids to cleaning products because it could damage them. Then we will charge every parent who lets their child near a car or other vehicle that lets out exhaust since it might damage their child. Not to mention since we had reports that "eggs" "pork" and "milk" were bad for us that we should charge these parents as well. The fact that later on the scientists said they were wrong doesn't matter. We'll just go by those original reports and not worry about anything else. Oh and lets not forget that any parent that lets their child drink water or brush their teeth with fluoride should be charged with poisoning their child since fluoride is a poison and can kill if too much is taken in. I think for now people should just back off worrying about new things to consider as abuse. There are many children right now who could use the help where they are actually being abused and it's ignored because we don't have enough workers to do the job. Adding in new charges for silly reasons wouldn't help anyone. It would just make some feel more holier then they do already.

Well I am torn on this subject. I personally do not smoke and I have kids that I dont want to be subject to second hand smoke but I do see the smokers point of view where they might say that we have the right to smoke if we want to. I feel that if the parents dont want there kids around the smoke then they should take them away from the people who are smoking but then the smokers should respect the rights of people who dont want to be around people who smoke. We babysit a kids and her father smokes really bad and all of her clothes smell like smoke and even her bookbag smells. I dont like the smell of smoke personally.

Good question. I myself am a smoker. However, I do not smoke in my car, my home or near my children. When people see me smoking they are often shocked, because I do not smell like a smoker (Very picky about that) There is a town here in NJ, that allows people to get a ticket if they are caught smoking in the car with kids. I am an adult, and know how bad smoking is for you, children do not, so I do belive parents should get a summons or such if caught smoking near a child. It is to me common sense, we as parents protect our children from "bad people" and such, smoking should be the same.

Smoking is harmful to everybody, not just the smoker's children. Therefore it is rude and irresponsible for a smoker to blow his/her smoke towards or near any other person. They should smoke in a place where they can only kill themselves and no one else. To answer your question: Should they be charged with child abuse? Sure!

Charging them with child abuse I guess would be too drastic. Instead, parents who smoke should be given education about the risks of second hand smoking on their children. A real exhaustive education may help remedy the problem; if parents still violate it, then the children or a concerned adult can already report these unconcerned parents so they can be heavily fined. But before that happens, a massive information should be conducted across the country to prevent parents from unwittingly abusing on their children by smoking in their presence.

hey lilly289!Yes I think parents should be charged when smoking with children around.It's the kids health they should be concerned of.I would not tolerate smoking parents.Never!

I think no because not all authorities could watch out for their moves time to time and the kids wont tell and thats for sure, parents should be responsible enough and know what it can cause to their kids when they smoke in front of them.

Hello, I beleive what you are saying but i dont think it should be considered child abuse, but possible a form of child endangerment. I see this happen all the time and myself was exposed to this in my youth till icould leave the house of my own free will or drive myself. My mother smoked heavily. when i was younger i had tryed to be the best athlete i could but i never had good lung perhaps smokign caused this. I also rember beign teased and picked on for smelling heavily of smoke and often accaused of smoking. its a problem but can we really do much of anything.... Matt

I don't condone smoking around anyone, however as long as its legal I don't suppose anyone could be charged with abuse unless there is specific legislature providing for it. I would hope that people who want to smoke would use a little common sense and not smoke in enclosed areas especially with others in the same place. I hope more people realize the dangers and take steps to cut down or quit.