Sympathy for smokers

This morning in Illinois there are about 2 million people who are feeling mighty put upon by the majority. They are the ones who no longer will be able to smoke in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, casinos, office buildings, even in private clubs. And although they've had several months to prepare for the new law, and although Illinois is now one of 19 states that is essentially 100 percent smoke-free, that doesn't make their pain any easier.

Many of these smokers will endure a kind of pain as they struggle to change their behavior. They now will either attempt to stop smoking entirely, or they will continue their unhealthy habit but with great difficulty – smoking only at home or in their cars, or being forced to steal a smoke outside of bars, restaurants and other public places at least 15 feet from an entrance.