Snuff out smoke

In reading the editorial of Aug. 2, in which you took a negative position towards smoking restrictions, I couldn't help but wonder what was smoldering in your pipe.

If I am downwind from a smoker, it doesn't matter how rude or how polite they are, I am still forced to smell their stinking toxic fumes. Polite smoker is an oxymoron. Smoking in places frequented by the public should be banned for both health and politeness reasons.

I am in favor of an individual's right to do whatever one wants with his or her body as long as it is done in the privacy of one's home or licensed professional's office and does not damage anyone else's physical health or property.

If a smoker wants to die a miserable death from lung cancer, that is his or her choice; but they have no right to force their choice upon me by having to breathe their smoke. By the way, what genius decided it was a good idea to put a cigar stand at the Promenade shopping center?

Your comment, "If smoking becomes a crime, other liberties are in peril," is laughable hypocrisy since I'm sure you are not in favor of decriminalizing drugs, reducing the drinking age to 12 or permitting public nudity. How about laws restricting the use of cellphones while driving? Is this another terrible loss of "freedom of choice" or an intelligent societal action with clear public health benefits?

If your editorials are designed to stimulate reader reaction, rather than promote well thought out ideas, why not advocate organized public dog fighting- that might generate a few letters. Mike Stern Westlake Village