dc smoking ban, back again

although solidly defeated last year, smoking ban advocates are at it again. dc residents, please come out to support business and customer autonomy:

The DC Council is considering two bills that would make all indoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants, smoke-free.

What’s your opinion?
Ward One Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, June 9, 2005 - 7 p.m.
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U Street, NW
(U Street/Cardozo Metro)

the first section of the proposed bill (PDF) asserts that second hand smoke is unhealthy and uncomfortable. it also states that smoker/nonsmoker separations are not always effective ways of preventing the harms of smoke inhalation. the above assertions are debatable, but even if true one can recognize the ills of smoke while allowing people the choice to be around it anyway.

not surprisingly the bill's distinction between public and private seems a bit fuzzy:

“Public Place” means an enclosed area to which the public is invited or in which the public is permitted.... A private residence is not a public place unless it is used as a child care, adult day care, educational or health care facility.

nb: ban the ban
hat-tip: bill

Labels: personal