Smoking in public does not only affect our health but it also affects our environment and can be costly to clean up. Taxpayers should not be responsible for cleaning up the remnants left over from smoking. Cigarette remnants do not stay confined in one area, it tend to spread. It is an eyesore and is unattractive to see on the grounds of the National Mall. Another important issue is, many tend to throw their lighted cigarettes on the ground and it continues to burn. This is a fire hazard and can easily start a fire which poses another threat to public safety. Being that the National Mall is a huge tourist attraction, it should maintain its beauty.
From a smoker’s standpoint, it would be unfair to completely ban smoking on the National Mall. We too pay taxes and contribute towards the cleanup. Also,