It's finally time to take a stand

The right to breathe clean air should take precedence over the right to smoke, simply because smoking endangers others' health.

And that's why we believe a smoking ban in all public buildings is needed.

There have been attempts in the past to ban smoking in restaurants. But why stop there?

If one has a right to eat in a smoke-free building, why shouldn't one have a right to conduct other business in a smoke-free place as well?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Kentucky ranks No. 1 in the instance of lung cancer in both men and women and ranks highly in the instance of other types of cancer brought on by smoking.

That's why any smoking ban should be countywide, not just inside the City limits. The ban is not a plan to penalize smokers, but, rather, it would provide an environmental protection plan for the benefit of everyone.

A recent report from the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy showed that air in local restaurants is not clean. In fact, in at least one local restaurant, the air was four times as polluted as the national outdoor standard.

If we can have a statewide law governing something we know we should do for our own benefit and don't - wear a seat belt - then why wouldn't we have a similar law when it comes to the benefit of others?

Last year, the Lake Cumberland District Health Board failed to take action on a District-wide smoking ban, so it is time for our community to take a step toward making home a healthier place.