Dear Mr. Sanders:
The belief that “fire-safe” cigarettes are safer is a fallacy! They are dangerous!
I have been smoking fire-safe cigarettes for the past year, because I buy my cigarettes from a New York Indian reservation.
Even though these “banded paper” cigarettes APPEAR to be out, the tobacco is still smoldering inside.? Only the cigarette paper stops burning.
What may APPEAR to be an extinguished cigarette can many times be activated by simply taking a drag on it.?? In ashtrays, even when these cigarettes are “butted out”, they can continue to burn.
After two close calls with wastebasket fires in my home, I am no longer quick to dump used ashtrays.
Smokers are a stubborn lot and will continue to smoke in their cars and while engaged in other tasks.
When the tobacco INSIDE the cigarette continues to burn, occasionally the unburned paper at the end of the cigarette ignites suddenly and falls from the cigarette.
If this happens to a driver in heavy traffic, putting out the burning paper that has fallen on them is truly dangerous.
Those supporting the introduction of these “fire-safe” cigarettes may be non-smokers, but it would be a very wise move to ask people who smoke how well these “safe” cigarettes work.
I hope the California politicians will remember that the next time they are in their autos on the highway, and are driving next to a car containing a smoking driver.
Garnet Dawn
The Smoker’s Club, Inc.
Midwest Regional Director
