UPI reports that the NYC smoking ban is close to being made state wide. The restrictive ban in NYC is set to force businesses and private clubs to be cigarette nazis, or face stiff penalties from the city. Now, prior to the smoking ban in NYC even going into effect, state legislators are jumping on the bandwagon to pass a state wide ban.

Lately many states and localities have been increasing cigarette taxes to balance their budget. Now some of them are throwing the budget out the window and hoping to ban cigarettes once and for all. I see the avalanche of legislation and anti-smoking fascism picking up speed.

Anti-smoking actually started decades ago with the airline industry. Since airplanes were a sealed tube, smoking sections didn't seem to make too much sense, and anti-smoking rules were adopted on short flights. Soon thereafter, smoking bans spread to domestic flights, and eventually all flights. Soon the ban spread to the airport, and smokers were relegated to little smoking cages within the terminals.

...only criminals will have tobacco

In recent years, smoking bans have spread to entire airports, office buildings, and even cities (like New York) and states (like California). It won't be long before cigarettes and tobacco are banned outright, in some cities and states. A national ban won't be far behind, and soon tobacco will be treated as an illicit drug.

When that happens, everyone will just stop smoking, right? Wrong. Cigarettes and tobacco products will go underground. As enforcement increases, prices will skyrocket and trafficking will be a lucrative business. It will also lead to more serious crimes, like murder, and money laundering. In general, crime will increase, and rather than profiting with tax revenue, governments will be spending millions to try to keep our streets tobacco free. Ironically, instead of being less accessible, cigarettes and tobacco will be more accessible than ever; especially to young children.

Anti-smoking game plan

So, is this scenario possible? You bet it is, but it won't happen all at once. The next step will be to ban smoking in the home. How is that possible? Well, the first arguments will be in the victimization of your neighbors. We are already starting to see anti-smoker movements and lawsuits that address the issues of smoke emanating from your home. Those arguments should serve to extend smoking bans onto your own private property. Smoking in your yard or on your front porch will be illegal.

A parallel argument will be made to extend the ban to the inside of your home. The most effective arguments will be made in the name of your own defenseless children. Minor children will be held up as victims of smoking parents. They are going to be said to be victims that truly have no choice but to endure the toxic fumes coming from the end of your cigarette. We are already starting to see smoking banned on playgrounds and in parks where children are present. Extending that ban to the home shouldn't prove to be too difficult. Lesser arguments will be made for anyone who has access to your home. Potential home buyers will be said to have a right to an environment that was smoke free. Your housekeeper, babysitter, TV repair man, or water meter reader will be held up as victims that are in need of tough anti-smoking legislation.

The anti-smoking movement is already fast at work to ban smoking in every public place. Extending the ban to private property is the next step, and will serve to ban smoking once and for all. Once that happens, tobacco will become just another illicit drug. A victimless habit will be turned into a criminal activity surrounded by organized crime, and countless law abiding citizens will be turned into criminals.

UPDATE: Perhaps the 'for the children' movement is already underway. Now a researcher is claiming that second hand smoke causes cavities. My bet is that the link is more behavioral than scientific. For instance, smoking parents may be less likely to make kids brush and floss regularly.