Will Vaping More Keep Us Safer?

So we are now facing a ban on vaping products. Why? Six people have died as a result of vaping. 450 people have permanent lung damage because of vaping.

At least that’s the claim. Don’t get me wrong. I think more research needs to be done on vaping products and ingredients. The flavors and scents used in vaping liquids have not been evaluated for heating and inhalation. It’s unlikely the standard plain or menthol kind are a problem. Other artificial ingredients seem like more of an issue.

Comparison. Now, let’s take a look at something else. Firearms. Especially assault weapons.

Assault weapons have been used in virtually every mass shooting in the US for years. Six people dead is a low number for larger mass shootings. 450 people with permanent physical injuries? We see more than that from guns in a single month. Permanent emotional injuries? More than 450 in a week, possibly more than that from a single event.

So, while a product that has been on the market for over a decade with little or no negative effects documented other than fanatical anti-tobacco pages, suddenly we have a rash of reports “confirmed” of deaths and lung damage. At the same time, devices designed for the express purpose of murdering large numbers of living creatures in a short period of time go virtually unrestricted. The unconfirmed instances spark outrage while millions of Americans scream mindlessly about retaining the right to own implements of death.