Mom and dad know best
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "Bill to ban smoking in cars with children passes the House" (Tribune, Feb. 12):
While I appreciate the desire to protect children from secondhand smoke exposure in cars, the proposal to ban smoking in cars occupied by children represents an unwarranted intrusion into the privacy and autonomy of parenthood.
The autonomy to make one's own decision about what risks to subject a child to should not to be interfered with lightly. It should only be done where there is a threat of severe harm to the child.
Interfering with parental autonomy where there is only minor risk involved is unwarranted. Parents know best.
Thomas Laprade
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada