Smoking Laws - by Jacque

I thought that my bro had a good point. Let me know what you think. Or you can even go to his blog and tell him (Jacque's Blog).

This is a subject that I really don't understand with some people, especially my wife. Houston has, or is in the process of passing a law to prohibit smoking in Houston area businesses. I totally disagree with the law. Should this not be the owner's decision? This is just like the local government coming to my house and telling me that I cannot smoke in my own house. What right do they have to do this? I can understand enforcing this law in all public buildings run by the government since we pay for the buildings and the organizations themselves. My wife thinks that she has the right to go anywhere and not be bothered by second hand smoke. I think she has the right to not go into that establishment. If the owner was worried about losing her business then he/she will make it a non-smoking establishment. My wife questions why should she have to choose based on smoking or non-smoking?, she should have a right to "smoke-free" air. Well the owner of the establishment should have the right to decide whether your business is needed. I mean lets say you owned a restaurant and wanted to display the ten commandments in the center of the restaurant. Well the city decides that they want to pass a law that there will be no displays of the Ten commandments in the city limits. If the smoking law is ok this would be ok...right? I am not a smoker but I am for the rights that this country has to offer. I am looking at the long term affects of our decisions rather than what benefit we can gain from the decisions we make in the next couple of years.