Punish Those Selling Tobacco to Children

The decision by the United States Supreme Court deregulating tobacco advertising must be seen for what it tried to do, not only for what it actually did (“Justices Say States, Cities Can’t Limit Tobacco Ads,” June 29). The purpose of banning the advertising of tobacco products to children was not meant to prevent speech by tobacco companies to children but to prevent sales by tobacco companies to children.

Without the mechanism of advertising restraint we must turn to more traditional methods to protect our children by reducing tobacco sales to children. The Legislature must enact and the police enforce a law punishing the sale of any tobacco product to anyone under the age of 18. The penalties of this law must be harsh and must apply to the individuals making the sale as well as the company that employs them.

It is unfortunate that individuals will have to be arrested and imprisoned to defend our children, but when government takes one form of protection of our children from us, we must find another. The alternative, to allow our future generations to be victimized by a lethal, addictive drug, is unaccept-able.

Doug Wichert

Los Angeles

The hypocrisy of large tobacco companies extolling their virtues in advertising campaigns (as their tobacco products kill people) is so blatant that I retch when I see the ads on television or hear them on radio.

I don’t doubt that these companies engage in commendable community activities. However, if they really want to make a positive contribution to the people of the world, they should give up blowing smoke and stop selling tobacco. Such action would gain them more respect and positive press than they ever thought possible.

Gary Myerson

Escondido