Should second hand smoke be child abuse?

Question

I was in line at Burger King a few days ago and I had my window rolled down. The lady in front of me rolled down her window to order and in seconds the cigarette smell from her car (that was at least 10 feet ahead of me) filled my car. The worst part was, she had a couple little kids with her. I could barely breathe--I couldn't even imagine how bad her car must have smelled or even worse how bad her home must smell. I thought to myself "Her kid's lungs must just be filled with that second hand smoke 24/7." Do you think second hand smoke should be considered child abuse? I mean it's one thing to have a dirty habit for instance drinking. If you drink then it's only affecting your health, not the health of innocent people around you right? What about those innocent kids in that car who's lungs are probably blackened from their mother's smoking? I don't think that's right and it should be child abuse what do you think?

Answer 1

I completely agree. Nothing makes me madder than seeing helpless children stuck in a car with thier parents are puffing away. If parents want to smoke, they need to do it outside where their children don't have to breathe that crap in. People should use their brains more.

Answer 2

I think that all smokers should take it outside, if not quit. I am a smoker, but i never never smoke around my children. And I have said something to others that do, although that really doesn't do much good i'm sure. Smokers are stubborn, just like all addicts.

In this issue there are alot of things that responsible parents would consider child abuse. However there are lots of things that parents don't realize are harmful to their children, just becasue there is not a huge sensasionalized hype about them. For instance: Chocolate milk and sugar kool-aide are at the top of the list for cavities in this country. Blackened teeth are as bad as blackened lungs. Pop, diet or not, has two evils, one the sugar and two the acid in it will literally eat away bone. Yet i've seen parents give bottles with pop in them to infants!!! Cow milk before the age of one can cause bowel blockage and infection. The list here is very long and i could go one for days.

Also, until the authorities can but an end to child abuse that we already have on the law books, even child abuse that has been reported time and time again, and yet ignored, i really don't see the need to add to the list of things to be ignored!!! Thousands of children die every year in this country from child abuse, neglect, and starvation. And in most of those deaths, prior reports were made.

Until we can do our very least, and have no single child in this country go hungry again, then we can worry about secondary problems like second hand smoke.

Answer 3

I don't think it will ever be considered child abuse. I do agree that parents should not smoke all the time around their kids. After my son was born, I made it a point to not smoke around him because I didn't want him exposed as a baby. The habit has carried over because he's six and I still have never smoked in front of him. If that means, I go all day without a smoke until he goes to bed, then I do it.

I don't think parents realize how bad they are damaging their kid's lungs from day one. It's kinda sad actually.

Answer 4

I don't think so. The legal and ethical definitions of child abuse are much more complex than secondhand smoke from a parent. is the parent doing this to get something out of the child? Is the parent doing it with the intent to harm the child? Is the parent obtaining something from the child?
I think there's a fine line where state is involve and personal responsibilities and choices. There should be separation, and even though, it's true, the kids didn't ask for the secondhand smoke, the intent and cruelty are missing for this being abuse.

Answer 5

Not abuse but definitely neglect. There is a legal term "failure to safeguard the health of a child". While not illegal if going to court it is pointed out that the child has asthma the parent who is guilty can have privileges taken away and the judge can order a desist order against taking the child into a place where there are in home smokers. Smoking at home unfortunately is not illegal it is just irresponsible to the child.

Answer 6

I think it should be considered child abuse! The children are innocent in this and dont have a say in their health. My dad always smoked around me and I had asthma as a child and I still havent forgotten that. And now that he has quit, he regrets it as well. Its just not right. I hate going to someone's house who has a child and they smoke in the house!

Answer 7

I think you are so right. It is child abuse! And kids should be taken away from parents who smoke period. So, many people are up in arms about spanking kids. But, no one says one word about people smoking around their kids. In Ca. It is illegal to smoke in a car with a child under the age of 18. And if you try to adopt a child in CA. a lot of adoption agencies won't find you fit as adoptive parents ( even if you smoke out side) if you smoke.
I think they should make it illegal to sell or smoke cigarettes in the US, just like pot. and if you are caught you are sent to jail.

Answer 8

Yes I do. When I was a child I was car sick all the time. My mother justified her smoking by saying she left the window open a little bit. Didn't help.

My daughter has asthma and my mother has the beginning stages of emphysema and cannot smoke or be around even the littlest bit of smoke.

Answer 9

i think it should be a law that parents who smoke in a car MUST have their window rolled down atleast enough to realease smoke at all times and at home should have atleast air filters running......i hear your arguement but you also must look at the alcohol factor as just as risky and harmful....alcoholics can mostly either turn mean or just not care because they are sooo drunk, a lot of drunks can be abusive either physically or mentally to family members which is just as bad....then theres the whole drinking and driving where it does kill innocent people (i know its against the law but you said drinking doesnt harm innocent people around you)..

Answer 10

i agree with you on this. but the only thing is how would they enforce it? i have a neighbor with a 1 year old and both parents smoke in the house, its irritating because i dont understand why you would do that? why make your kids pay for your bad habit? its not fair to them. my mom smoked when i was little and i developed asthma, as soon as i was diagnosed with asthma she quit smoking but it was already too late at that point. they are already in the process of making strict smoking laws so hopefully they come up with one to protect the innocent children. Plus when kids see their parents smoking, they are likely to start when they get older, so the bad habit continues on generation after generation, its so sad.

Answer 11

You are so right! When my kids come home from their dad's house, I want to PUKE from the smell on their clothes. They also have a 1 yr. old, and I can just imagine how that poor baby feels! It should be abuse! It is also offensive to everyone else around who doesn't smoke.