This letter is in regard to the letter from Mary Jane Newell of South Paris concerning the dangers of secondhand smoke (May 12).

Those of us who do not smoke realize the dangers. Two of my sisters had children with asthma which cleared up very shortly after they quit smoking.

I think that Ms. Newell’s assertion that it will be 2,000 years before a non-smoker would have affects is ludicrous!

My husband and I smoked for many years. In only 6 weeks after quitting we were breathing better and had cleared the awful smells from our home. Now the smell of cigarettes makes me nauseous when I leave stores and public buildings where employees smoke out front.

I work at UMA at Lewiston-Auburn College which keeps smokers at least 50 feet from any entrance.

I am so glad that smoking is banned in restaurants so that now we can go anywhere to eat. We will be happy if they ban smoking in bars and at bingo games. I haven’t played beano in years due to the amount of smoke.

My husband had to quit playing pool in a league because he couldn’t handle the smoke during the games.

I think more non-smokers will start going out to clubs and bars when this legislation passes. They might be pleasantly surprised like the restaurants owners were.

Joyce Cox, Lewiston