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Clearing the air about smoking bans

From the Bluegrass Institute

Kudos to the Scott County Fiscal Court for refusing to consider a smoking ban.

A recent motion to ban smoking in “public” places by Magistrate Gary Perry was met with silence after several people addressed the body, many of whom spoke of the importance of protecting property rights and personal freedom.

The other magistrates are to be commended for not caving in to the pressure of health nannies, who forced a smoking ban upon the residents of Georgetown, the county seat, earlier this summer. The Georgetown City Council voted down a ban two years ago, but flip-flopped in June to ban smoking in public places within the city limits.

Advocates of a ban include Jan Beauchamp, who offered the predictable pro-ban arguments in her comments before magistrates voted. Beauchamp emphasized the health concerns that some have about smoking and asked the court to “give the choice back to the rest of us who don’t want to live in a smoke-filled environment.”

Fortunately, some local policymakers and clear-thinking citizens set supporters of a ban straight about the environments in which they choose to place themselves. Judge-Executive George Lusby pointed out that smoking-ban proponents cannot claim not to have choices because several restaurants already have implemented smoking bans voluntarily.

Anthony Arnold, another resident who attended the court’s meeting, is a nonsmoker but does not favor the kind of government interference associated with smoking bans.

“If I do not wish to be near it, I don’t go in,” Arnold said. “It’s real easy. I don’t need someone putting laws into effect telling me it’s going to be smoke-free everywhere.”

When the smoking ban zealots show up again, let’s hope Scott County’s leaders continue to courageously vote in a manner that protects their constituents from government policies that threaten some of Kentuckians’ most important rights.

Sources:

"Motion for Scott smoking ban dies" by Steve Lannen, Lexington Herald-Leader

"Georgetown council votes to ban public smoking indoors" by Murray Evans, Associated Press

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