Letter: Smoking ban defies freedom of choice

Wednesday, July 12, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

Government offices, hospitals and businesses have been controlling smoke, toxins, dust and environmental-caustic wastes for years and doing a great job.

The U.S. surgeon general's anti-smoking report on secondhand smoke is so flawed and hyped by special interests it loses all reason and logic. Illness and disease are caused by many things in a person's life.

Freedom of choice is a person's right. That is what this country was founded on. So let's have both smoking restaurants, bars, businesses and casinos and on the other end have nonsmoking restaurants, bars, businesses and casinos.

It's a great solution. The person can then choose where to eat, drink and hang out. Children? They shouldn't be at any bar or tavern and, yes, even any casino if they are under 21 years old.

Already there are ample restaurants in the state and Las Vegas Valley that clearly offer a nonsmoking environment, and if the state leaves it up to the individual business owner to make that choice there will be those who choose to go totally nonsmoking. But it's their choice, not the nanny government.

So, officials and politicians, do not place a large prohibition on one segment of society. Choice is the way to go. People can make up their own minds.

Brad Evans, Las Vegas