Va. Senate Passes Indoor Smoking Ban

I never smoked. I don't like smoking at all, it literally makes me sick. When I was single I avoided dating women who smoked. My children are grown adults and they do not smoke when I'm around because they know how I feel about it. I am absolutely against banning smoking in public places.

Senate Bill 648, sponsored by a Republican from Roanoke, would make smoking illegal in all public workplaces with the exception of certain tobacco stores and offices. The prohibition would extend to bars, restaurants and bowling alleys.

The Virginia ban would include banks, bars, educational facilities, health care facilities, hotel and motel lobbies, laundromats, public transportation, reception areas, retail food production and marketing establishments, retail services establishments, retail stores, shopping malls, sports arenas, theaters and waiting rooms. Hotels could also set aside no more than 25 percent of their rooms for smokers.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) promised to oppose the bill. Kevin Hall, spokesman for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), said the governor also opposes a statewide ban. But, he said, "it's a little soon for a veto threat."

I live in Virginia. I do not support this law because I believe that this decision should be left to the individual businesses. A provision should be made that a public service business such as a restaurant, bar or hotel should be given the option to be smoking, nonsmoking or a mixture of both at its own discretion. I am perfectly capable to take a decision as to the desirability of patronizing a business whether it is nonsmoking or not. If it allows smoking I should not have some "right" to force that business to accommodate me.

With such an option over time a suitable situation could arise that would be satisfying to most people. The marketplace has a remarkable capacity for finding and adopting trends. If only the politicians could resist the temptation to exploit popular opinion codifying fashion in such a way as to stifle innovation.