Tobacco.org

EDITORIAL: Local smoking bans were reaction to an epidemic 

more South Carolinians die each year of smoking-related illnesses than from AIDS, liver disease, breast cancer, car accidents and several other causes combined. Data show that 5,992 people died in 2004 of smoking-related illnesses. That is nearly twice as many as a select group of causes, including murder, suicide, infant death, illegal drugs and fires.

Smoking bans were enacted to protect those people and employees who don't smoke and don't enjoy being around it. Communities reacted to an epidemic by performing the tough work that the state legislature should be doing -- regulating smoking. What the state needs is an adequate state law that makes bans uniform.

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