Who else feels smoking around children should be considered child abuse? And why?

Answer 1

Smoking in a home or vehicle while children are present SHOULD be considered child abuse, but at the very least, child endangerment. All those horrid chemicals in smoke have such toxic effects on children's growing bodies- and are known to cause conditions such as cancers and asthma. In our state (CA) it is illegal to smoke on grounds children frequent, which includes schools and playgrounds at parks. So far, no state has enacted a law that would ban smoking in cars with children present, and that will probably be a tough one to pass, since smokers will claim that it infringes upon their private right to smoke (however, that means they are overlooking their own's child's right to NOT breathe that same smoke). It would be nice if they could figure out a way to get that enacted, but with so many parents who smoke, it just isn't important to them to stop smoking anywhere for their child's health. Too bad for the children.

Answer 2

I do. Small children can't defend themselves by walking away or escaping the smoke. You're forcing them to stand there and breathe it in, and at the same time risking their lives.

My sister smokes, though she says never around her daugther. However, she smokes in her car, so Emma's carseat smells like smoke, plus so do some of Emma's clothes. My sister clothes stick too. Emma's doctor warned Jenna that even smoke on materials can be a problem, so you have to remember that breathing in the smoke anywhere can cause harm!

I just just don't smoke!

Answer 3

I agree with McMayem and Dolphin Mama.. It should be illegal particularly in cars and other enclosed spaces. Let's start with that. The children have no way of protecting themselves.

My husband's mother smoked around her children. It causes low birth weight babies, increases risk of SIDS, and increases the children's risks of getting respiratory illnesses, like asthma.Second hand smoke is full of environmental toxins. Would you allow your children to inhale other harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia?

Answer 4

I definately feel it is abuse. If the parents are smoking in front of a child then the child might smoke when s/he gets older because of the parents influence. We all know that second hand smoke is worse because smokes have filters.

Answer 5

My husband were just talking about this yesterday,, it should be Illegal! especially in the car, we saw a car with 2 kids in the back and the mom smoking with NO WINDOWS rolled down! HOW CAN THEY BREATH!

Children should have a choice if they want to get lung cancer or not! I think this should be a law!

Answer 6

Child abuse is a term that is being weakened and trivialised trough stupid usages such as this. Meet a child who has actually been abused, and you will know what I mean.

Having said that, smoking is obviously not good for young lungs. I stopped smoking in the house as soon as my son was born. It was not because I considered myself a child abuser.

Answer 7

I agree! I have always said that it was abuse! The way I see it is that if you have to be a certain age to smoke them that you shouldn't have to breathe it in before that either!

KIds don't have a choice! Thank God Georgia went smoke free last year so we all get to breathe easier but I do remember watching small kids and babies sit in the smoking section of places and feeling so bad for them...

Parents who smoke with their children suck!

Answer 8

I agree my parents smoked around me as a kid an I was sick all the time and had health problem b/c of it! I would NEVER smoke around my Girls!!!

Answer 9

It should be illegal, but not considered abuse. I doubt many smoking parents are intending to harm their children.

Answer 10

My entire family smokes exept for me, my brother, and my sister. They smoked at least a package and a half a day right in front of us. Now I didn't get Asma but my doc says that I was close to it. I think that is should be child abuse because if a child breathes in to much smoke theres a good chance that child could die because of it.