Comprehensive smoke ban values all lives equally

By BOB COBLE

Guest Columnist

The Columbia City Council will give final reading to our no-smoking ordinance this Wednesday. This vote will be a critical step in making Columbia's work spaces and public places safer and healthier. Columbia passed a no-smoking ordinance in November of 2006, but we did not enforce our ordinance until the state Supreme Court upheld the validity of cities enacting such provisions.

The court ruled in March that cities and counties could pass such ordinances, and outlined how the ordinances must be enforced. The ordinance that City Council will consider enforces a violation as a civil penalty. Additionally, council will consider making the smoking ban apply to bars as well as restaurants. I believe that a comprehensive ban, including bars, is essential to the health of all of our citizens....