Tobacco Ads

Re “Tobacco Firms Threaten Assault on Cigarette Bill,” April 4:

There is a difference between free political speech and commercial speech. Further, there is a difference between making something seductively attractive in an ad and realistically representing the product.

First Amendment rights should apply only to noncommercial speech. Specifically, banning tobacco advertising would not, in my opinion, be a violation of the tobacco industry’s rights. Tobacco companies certainly have the right to say publicly that tobacco consumption should be legal. They, however, should not be allowed to advertise their clearly harmful products.

JIM KETCHAM

Malibu