I only smoke when I am on fire, but the gubmint shouldn't tell me I can't smoke on private property when I have the owner's permission.

With all that is going on in the world, why am I demonizing smoking bans when I don't even personally smoke?

Either I am being funded by Big Tobacco (which, if that were the case, my vehicle would be a much spiffier gas-guzzling SUV) or I truly care about our erosion of freedoms and the slippery slope we are sliding on called government regulation. Government regulation is now expanding into the realm of trans fats, fast food restaurants, and fois gras. What's next? Texas barbecue?

Huckabee supporters: listen up. National bans are a bad idea, even if they are banning something you don't like anyway. Giving away more power to the federal government is always in the best interests of the government and not the people.

Face it. Even state or local smoking bans are bad. Why? Here's a basic lesson for Conservatism 101: When the government regulates the use of a legal product on private property, it tramples directly over that business owner's property rights and the customers' rights to consumer choice. Government involvement in issues dealing with secondhand smoke or smoking in general is inappropriate.

The more honest approach for anti-tobacco pressure groups to take would be to ban tobacco products entirely. Of course, that would accomplish several things. First, we'd see an immediate Prohibition-era phenomenon with cigarettes and other tobacco products, complete with an underground market. Second, donation drives and volunteerism for the American Cancer Society would hit an all-time low, because they use smoking bans as a fundraiser issue and put more effort into lobbying for outrageous laws to control the public than they do in education or cancer research. And third, our economy would suffer another blow.

Again, I am not a smoker but I do realize the importance of tobacco to our country. If you are a student of history you will remember that tobacco was the crop that funded the Revolutionary War! It's not the demon it is made out to be--people who use it in excess are the problem, but that's their choice.

If you love freedom and don't want to see Americans lose another freedom, please consider fighting the proposed extension of the smoking ordinance that the Dallas City Council is considering. Also, be prepared to fight a statewide smoking ban when it comes up in January.