To the Editor,
Re: Smokers need to clean up the mess, Opinion, Oct. 23.
Discarded cigarette butts are more serious (to wildlife) and widespread than many realize.
Of course lit ones are especially dangerous fire hazards during dry weather. Which makes one wonder what smokers are thinking when they have ashtrays within reach. Mind you, why is anyone with a brain smoking anyway?
To add to the problem, the current laws in B.C. are inadequate, as I found out when appearing as a witness recently in court where badly written laws failed to achieve a conviction of a person I saw tossing a burning cigarette butt onto the road during extremely dry conditions.
Even more troubling has been the near-total lack of concern by pertinent B.C. government staff and ministers when I alerted them of the flawed legislation.
Given the systemic stupidity surrounding this issue, one cannot help but be more pessimistic about the future.
Gary Korpan
Nanaimo