What do you think about this?
Officials in a central Indiana county have repealed a local smoking ban that was stricter than a statewide ban the General Assembly approved earlier this year.
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The ban would have prohibited smoking in all bars, restaurants, businesses, hotels, private clubs and outdoor areas of parks and fairgrounds.
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A state law, which took effect July 1, bans smoking inside public buildings and places of employment but has exceptions for bars and casinos. It also allows nonprofit private clubs such as fraternal and veterans organizations to permit smoking, but only in a designated room with separate ventilation that is off limits to those younger than 18.
The debate over the appropriateness of government control of private activities aside, I've always preferred local over state, state over national. Fort Wayne's smoking ordinance is tougher than the state's, but if I don't like it, I have a much better chance of persuading five councilmen than I do 51 state representatives and 26 senators.
