Personally, I quit smoking five years ago. Occasionally, I'll fire up a minature Macanudo to accompany a 38 degree fahrenheit frothy beverage. Although my home is a smoke free environment, I don't have a problem with second hand smoke unless it's blown in my face. But if I am the proprietor of a business serving the public, what right is it of the state to tell me I can't smoke in my own establishment? Nobody is compelled to come in and eat in my place. Consumers are free to frequent another establishment that caters to their desire for a smoke free environment.

I'm not claiming that I should have the right to engage in illegal activity on my property, or exclude individuals based on race, religion or sex. Quite the contrary, folks dissauded from entering my place due to the existence of chain smoking fiends are free to exclude my spot from the circle of establishments they visit on a regular basis. And it's not like a single restaurant should be tagged a necessity, to satisfy every whim of even the most finicky patron. It isn't exactly the same as a courthouse where everyone must report to when prescribed. And there's an ample supply of restaurants open to customers to choose from.

I just can't believe those poll numbers are so large. Have we become such an intolerant lot that can't endure an hour in a smoker segregated restaurant. I realize there are some that have medical conditions that make for uncomfortable conditions in close proximity to second hand smoke, but I can't believe most Arizonians favor imposition of the nanny state in a one time frontier state where independence and liberty reigned.