I quit smoking many years ago, and I know that ex-smokers can be a pain when they are around other smokers. But, being around smokers does not bother me. What does bother me are some of our “namby pamby” politicians who go to great lengths to circumvent the laws and regulations that they voted on and passed.

With all the hype about healthcare costs of smoking, the dangers of second-hand smoke to others, and all the government programs available to help stop smoking, how can smoking in an Oklahoma prison be justified?

It’s one thing to ban smoking in a public restaurant where people have a choice to stay or leave in order to avoid the perceived smoking hazards. But to turn around and not ban smoking in a controlled environment such as a prison, where people cannot leave, nor have an opportunity to avoid second-hand smoke — especially the employees — is just ridiculous.

To say that healthcare costs are less because the “prison population spends less time in the prison” is an empty argument in that while they spend less time in the prison, after they leave prison they are still driving up the healthcare costs in Oklahoma because they are still smoking and they are still in Oklahoma.

And what about the employees working at the prison? They don’t get to leave the area, so they are part of the healthcare costs, also. And, the argument that smoking is difficult to control — are you kidding me? — in a prison wi th guards, TV monitors, entrance security for visitors, etc. What are they doing, growing tobacco in their toilets and manufacturing cigarette s in the dead of night? Slap another year on for violating the smoking ban and see how fast it stops.

This is a bad decision and doesn’t sound like there is very much commitment from our politicians toward enforcing the laws and regulations they voted on and passed. In fact, it sounds like a  copout. It also sounds like an excuse to circumvent the intent of “no smoking” laws and regulations to pick up cash by way of more tax revenue from cigarette taxes. This should be reversed promptly.

Robert     Dunkelberger

Muskogee