Not too many years ago, a proposal to ban smoking in the workplace was considered a rather radical measure. Only some sort of health nut would support a law against smoking.

How times have changed.

Now, the number of states with bans exceeds those that allow smoking in the workplace. At first the changeover was gradual and in many cases individual cities took the initiative before state governments joined in.

Locally, change has come about in even smaller ways. One establishment advertises itself as smoke-free and soon a competing business joins in, learning that a majority of customers appreciate the ban.

Michigan could soon join those states that have taken measures to protect the health of all workers—most notably those who choose not to inhale tobacco smoke.

We applaud Morenci city council’s support of a state ban. A letter to State Sen. Brown gives him one more piece of armor in standing up against the lobby that wants smoking to continue, and to those citizens who complain that a ban means one more of their rights were taken away by the government. Supporters, on the other hand, cheer government efforts to give them the right to breathe smoke-free air at work or when out to dinner.

An article in the Detroit Free Press mentions that State Sen. Bruce Patterson, a Republican from Canton, was once opposed to a state-imposed smoking ban, but his opinion changed as scientific evidence piled up showing secondhand smoke as a public health threat.

“I used to be on the wrong side of the issue,” Patterson said. “Now I'm on the right side.”

We hope other opponents have a similar change of mind and lead Michigan to join the majority of states that have made the right choice for their citizens.