Letters on county’s e-cigarette policy, blight bill veto, act of kindness

E-cigarette exemption endangers public health

As a resident of Sedgwick County and volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, I was shocked to hear of a proposal to allow e-cigarette use in county buildings. This puts at serious risk the health of our community’s workers and residents.

There is no solid scientific evidence to support claims that these products are safe, even for people who breathe in fumes secondhand. Studies have found cancer-causing substances in half the e-cigarette samples tested.

With the smoke-free air law, Kansas recognized that everyone – regardless of where they work – deserves to breathe clean air. We shouldn’t undermine this law by allowing e-cigarette use and renormalizing smoking.

If the Sedgwick County Commission wishes to help employees quit smoking, it should look to proven methods of cessation – not anecdotal stories. There are many effective ways to help county employees kick this addiction, like calling 1-800-QUIT NOW.

But the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation is neither scientifically proved nor approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, many e-cigarette labels tell consumers that they are not marketed or intended for smoking cessation.

Sedgwick County residents shouldn’t be forced to risk dangerous and unnecessary exposure to secondhand e-cigarette emissions.

Glad for veto

Private property ownership is one of our fundamental rights as Americans. To have that right taken away would be devastating to all Kansans, and that is exactly what Senate Bill 338 would have allowed if not for the courage of Gov. Sam Brownback to veto this bill (April 12 Eagle).

SB 338 would allow local government to take land and homes from the most vulnerable and give it to private organizations. This bill would have given the local officials a large amount of power to choose which properties could stay and which they could take.

I’m glad the governor realized this bill was wrong for all Kansans. He protected our constitutional right to own property and limited the power grab of government.

Act of kindness

While I was walking in Sedgwick County Park last Thursday, my driver’s license slipped out of my pocket. A very kind person found it and brought it to my home.

I sincerely offer my thanks for this act of kindness.

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Letters on county’s e-cigarette policy, blight bill veto, act of kindness."