If four commercial jets with 298 people on each went down daily in the United States and all 1,190 passengers died, the newspapers would carry the tragic events front page. If this were to occur daily, 365 days in a row, the total dead would equal the 434,000 Americans killed by tobacco use, according to the recent numbers mentioned in the Ann Sossong article, “How to Cut Tobacco Use” (BDN March 4). But if these events were to involve air travel, all commercial jets would be grounded until the reasons were known why the travel was so deadly. Why shouldn’t the same be done about such an addictive killer as tobacco?

Sen. Mitchell had best reconsider the addition of a $2 tax and up that because tobacco is literally killing his constituents. Truman Black Whiting