To the editor:

I am a nonsmoker and generally regard the habit as debilitating and self-destructive, but everyone has their vice (or vices), myself included. The question should be raised, “Is that vice a danger to others?” Well, sometimes it is and sometimes it’s not, but smoking is legal.

The strongest argument put forth by “Clean Air Lawrence” is that smoking adversely affects people in the workplace. If the workplace is a bar, then that is part of the job. If a group of firemen get called to put out a fire and upon arrival one of the fireman says “Hey chief, I don’t want to go in there. Fire’s hot, and it may be bad for my health,” he/she would be told to get in there or find another line of work.

The business owner is the one who put forth the time and effort and assumed the financial risk of providing a place of entertainment for people to congregate, and it is up to them to decide the manner of that enjoyment within the confines of the law. If you cannot stand the smoke, don’t go.

Many people try and balance individual freedoms with what is best for the community, but this time the pendulum has swung too far, resulting in legislation that views the world as black and white rather than shades of gray.

Jason Kish,

Lawrence