The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Ohio and other veterans groups are seeking a ballot initiative to exempt VFW halls from the smoking ban passed last November.

Members-only VFW halls, which veterans believed fell under an exemption clause that appeared on the November ballot, shouldn’t have to comply, said William Seagraves, state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Ohio. He’s urging the state to change its draft rules for enforcing the ban.

“How can the state tell veterans that they have no right to smoke in their private clubs?” asked Seagraves, whose group represents 424 VFW halls in Ohio.

(skipping)

The health department hopes to have penalties and other rules in place by April but has until June 7 to finalize them, said spokesman Jay Carey. Seagraves said his group will push for a new ballot initiative that exempts VFW halls if the state insists on keeping its interpretation of the law.

I would think veterans would recognize that the smoking ban was not only an assault on their rights but on the rights of the Ohioans they protected on the battlefield. They should be gearing up to remove the law entirely, instead of seeking to duck it.