Throughout our history, politicians have found it necessary to enact laws that essentially try to ?save us from ourselves.?

For one, fireworks are illegal in many states because they pose too much of a danger to the users. In addition, citizens of most states now have to obtain a permit from the government to engage in what used to be common activities. Recently, the new craze among politicians in state capitols across America has been to ban smoking in virtually every public place for the sake of our own health.

In late February, the Virginia State Senate passed a bill that would have banned smoking in most public places including bars and restaurants. Fortunately, the bill was killed when a House of Delegates subcommittee voted unanimously to reject it.

In America, competition is what makes us the greatest country on Earth. Some bars and restaurants allow smoking, and others do not. For us as consumers, we have the choice of going to any public place where we feel comfortable. Anybody who has taken principles of economics would understand that different establishments cater to different parts of the population. Smoking might be considered evil in today?s world, but many people still smoke and consider smoking a part of their social life. Without a doubt, it would be a huge mistake economically and for the sake of our own liberties to impose a public smoking ban on all public places in the state of Virginia.

In Montgomery County, Maryland politicians have made national headlines for their intense desire to create the ultimate politically correct society. Aside from banning Santa Claus from a Christmas tree lighting and deeming high school mascots related to Native Americans as offensive, Montgomery County was one of the first jurisdictions to enact a sweeping smoking ban that made all public places, including restaurants and bars, smoke-free.

Not only has the ban infringed on the freedoms of citizens who live in the county, but many business owners have filed a lawsuit against the county government claiming that the smoking ban has severely hurt their establishments.

According to the Restaurant Association of Maryland, business in the county has dropped by about 30 percent on weeknights and 50 percent on the weekends. Most of their former patrons simply go elsewhere in Maryland or to neighboring Washington, D.C. where smoking is allowed.

Most proponents of smoking bans argue that they are for the good of the entire public and not part of the government?s yearning to eat away at our rights little by little. However, the new buzz is around taking the next step to ban smoking in every place that is outdoors ? including your own personal yard. If politicians have their way, smoking could become illegal in the privacy of your own home. It?s not always accurate to portray any regulatory measure as the beginning of a slippery slope, but this is a prime example of one.

More recently, the Virginia bill received national headlines because of our state?s long legacy of association with the tobacco industry.

Furthermore, Virginia is home to the worldwide headquarters of Philip Morris. But Virginia has a much more important legacy ? one that represents the birthplace of American freedom as we know it today. During the founding of our nation, the fathers of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution intended this country to be a place where individual freedom reigns supreme over any state or federal law that infringed on that freedom. When the House of Delegates rejected this expansive smoking ban, they rightfully maintained this historical reputation.

Make no mistake; there is nothing wrong with a private business or organization telling citizens that they should not smoke.

However when our government gets involved to tell us what is best for ourselves, they are verging dangerously close to a type of tyranny that America usually stands up against.