Are some cities going too far with bans on smoking, even outdoors?

You can’t smoke anywhere, anymore. First came municipal ordinances against smoking inside certain buildings. Then bars. Then casinos. And now, the Denver City Council is considering a ban on smoking – even outdoors – on hospital property.

If state government weren’t so addicted to the tobacco tax money smokers pay, I’d say let’s just ban the cancer sticks all-together. I mean, if you can’t light ‘em up, why sell them to begin with? And let’s not forget it doesn’t take a new law to ban smoking in any private place. Property-rights advocates made that argument about bars and casinos. Businesses, like hospitals, may establish rules for their visitors, and call the police to remove trespassers who disobey.

But the societal urge to legislate all human behavior is just too strong, apparently. City councilors take up the ordinance on second reading this week. Here’s hoping they just let common sense prevail – and kill an unnecessary proposal.

For FaceTheState.com, I’m Brad Jones.