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Lake City should join the growing list communities throughout the United States and around the world to expand prohibitions on smoking in public places, including outdoor settings.
There is no valid reason for the capital city not to prohibit smoking in all city parks and within 50 feet of any gathering of 500 or more people on city-owned property.
Let's get over any lingering inclination in this state to view this as a moral or religious issue. It's time Utahns of all backgrounds come to see the anti-smoking movement in the same way nations, states and communities throughout the world have come to view it - as a health issue.
It has been reported that "1,100 adults in Utah die each year as a result of their own smoking, and an estimated 140 to 250 deaths among adults, children and babies are caused by secondhand smoke exposure."
At least nine Utah cities have already restricted or prohibited smoking in outdoor venues. More should. In fact, this is something the legislature ought to tackle sooner rather than later. A statewide ban on smoking in outdoor public places certainly is in order.
Until that happens, Salt Lake City should jump onboard the movement to ban smoking in all public places and set an example for the rest of Utah to follow.
