Let me say that I don't smoke, and would never recommend smoking to anyone. I believe smoking is a bad habit; it is unhealthy, and beyond the health consequences cigarette smoke stinks. However, I believe that the owners of restaurants and bars should be free to decide whether to allow smoking in their establishment. It is their property after all. And if customers wish to patronize an establishment that allows smoking they should have that right. If they have a problem with it they can go somewhere else. In effect let the market decide.
Well, many in the state senate disagree, they want to deny property owners the right to allow smoking. And they want to deny individuals, who voluntarily choose to go to an establishment and smoke. Today two anti smoking bills reported out of the Senate. One sponsored by Sen. Frederick M. Quayle, R-Suffolk, and one by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.
On the Senate floor only one voice of dissent could be heard. Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, incredulously asked Lucas whether the bill "would allow localities to ban smoking anywhere they want, including businesses, including homes, including cars ... anywhere?"
"Yes," Lucas replied. "It allows a locality to exceed those requirements."
Lets hope the more conservative house will kill the bills.
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