Cigarette Ban Up in Smoke for Jackson County Recreational Areas

By Alison Gonzalez

Published on July 17, 2007

The board of supervisors rejected the ordinance, which was intended to give park officials the authority to regulate smoking during youth events. Supervisor Manly Barton said many people have complained about others who smoke in the stands during games where children are present.

The ban was also intended to improve the health of people in Jackson County. Smokers might decide to quit because of the inconvenience of having to leave a smoke-free property to light up, said Supervisor Frank Leach. Non-smokers would also benefit from cleaner air and a decreased risk of lung cancer and other medical conditions.

Leach told reporters that the board rejected the ban not in support of smokers' rights but because the ordinance did not include all county-owned properties, including the courthouse. He added that he supports creating a ban that addresses smoking on a county-wide level.

Board of Supervisors President Tim Broussard, however, rejected the proposal for different reasons. He said smoking is not illegal in the U.S. and a ban would infringe on individual rights.

Currently, Pascagoula is the only city in Jackson County to enforce a no-smoking policy.

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