Now is the time to enact a Nelson County smoking ban

A recent study released by the University of Kentucky proves that Kentucky communities with strong smoking ban laws are 8 percent less likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than those that don't. With more than two decades of data, those who support smoking bans in public places finally have documented proof of what they have been saying all along - protecting people from second-hand smoke can, and will, save lives.

The city of Bardstown was one of the Kentucky communities cited in the study, passing a comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinance in March 2010 that included all buildings open to the public and other establishments where employees work on the premises, such as restaurants, bars, retail shops and private clubs. The city's smoking ban also includes company vehicles, but does allow smoking outside within a reasonable distance. It's been seven years since the city imposed a smoking ban and all the arguments made at the time that a smoking ban would negatively impact local businesses and tourism is just plain laughable at this point. More than seven years later, local businesses and tourism has continued to see significant growth despite - or rather some would say because of - the smoking ban.

Now's the time for the Nelson County Fiscal Court to revisit a county-wide smoking ban that couldn't garner enough support to even take a vote in 2008.

While there was much discussion and public input, in the end, Fiscal Court magistrates felt it was not the right time to impose a smoking ban. One magistrate even commented that "soon the county would be smoke-free, but 2008 wasn't the year for it."

Well, here we are, a decade a later, and the facts continue to prove that second-hand smoke is harmful to those exposed to the dangers - whether they are employees, children or other consumers.

If Fiscal Court members have been putting off the vote all these years because they were hoping the state would pass a smoking ban, it's not going to happen anytime soon. While a recent Kentucky Health Poll found that 71 percent of Kentuckians support a statewide smoking ban in public and work places, there doesn't appear to be any chance that the Republican-controlled House and Senate will take up the issue in the next General Assembly. Also, Gov. Matt Bevin quickly made his stance known after taking office, saying that smoking bans should be a local government issue.

Now is the time for our community to push Nelson County Fiscal Court members to take a stand, even though it's an election year. The county already has a smoking ban in effect for county-operated buildings and county-owned vehicles. It just makes sense to extend that ordinance to protect the health and well-being of all its citizens.

As views have changed over the years, chances are a majority of Nelson Countians would embrace a smoking ban for the rest of the county.

Local government plays a critical role in protecting its residents. It's time our local elected county officials heed the call to ensure all workers and the public are protected from second-hand smoke by passing a strong county-wide ban.