To all the smokers out there who are fuming about Erie County's proposed smoking ban I offer a simple message.

It could be much worse.

Consider this item from this morning's Washington Post about an apartment building owner that wants to ban smoking by its tenants.

This, in my opinion, is a step too far.

It's one thing to try to prevent smoke from filling the air in public establishments.

It's another thing to try to stop people from engaging in an illegal activity in their own homes.