Letter: We're breathing easier

To the Editor:

I am so grateful! Oct. 1 is the five-year anniversary of the Freedom to Breathe Act. My family will definitely celebrate the five years of smoke-free air.

Before Freedom to Breathe, we avoided restaurants that allowed smoking. I did not want to expose my young children to the toxic, cancer-causing chemicals in secondhand smoke and my husband has a hard time with the smoke and how it affects his lungs.

I also felt bad for those who had to choose between their health and their paycheck. How awful for those who had to work in smoky bars/restaurants.

The Freedom to Breathe Act has been a very positive, healthy change for Minnesota. Everyone I know loves the smoke-free air.

Aside from that happy news, the sad part is more than 5,100 Minnesotan’s still die each year from disease caused by tobacco. Our state still has work to do in the fight against the harm caused by tobacco.

In this economy I would think most people would be upset that it costs all of us nearly $3 billion a year to treat diseases caused by smoking - that works out to a cost of $554 each for every man, woman and child in Minnesota! We need to continue our efforts to ensure that our future generations will not fall victim to tobacco.

Debby Bradley

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters