Smoking was once glamorous. Or so celebrities and actors - and tobacco companies - wanted us to believe.

One ancient newspaper advertisement showed a man blowing smoke into the face of an admiring woman who made eyes at him, supposedly longing for him - and enjoying his annoyance.

Gross.

Smokers today don't claim sex appeal with the habit, but say they experience satisfaction or a calming influence when they suck and puff.

To each, his/her own.

But smoking is clearly a bad and death-inducing habit. All smokers, and nonsmokers, are aware of the harmful nature of ingesting tobacco. Seven hundred chemical additives are found in cigarettes, many toxic, including poisons like carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide (at least 43 are carcinogens and numerous are mutagens).

Yuck.

Smokers often develop respiratory ailments and can have thickening of the arteries, blood clots, cancer of the lungs, cervix, larynx, mouth, esophagus, bladder, pancreas and kidney, and emphysema, as well as exhibit symptoms such as reduced stamina, poor athletic performance, wheezing, coughing, dizziness and nausea.

Double gross.

Protecting people from those who smoke seems to make legislative sense. But it isn't the Legislature's job to protect people from themselves or pass along punishment. That's what House Bill 1213 wrongly attempts to do.

It is now legal for hotels and motels, and other places of lodging, to rent designated smoking rooms to guests. And smoking in bars is also legal. HB1213 would make smoking in these places illegal.

All legislative smoking bans, which are directed at protection of those who don't smoke, are proper. But HB1213 seems silly, an attempt to impose morality and take away personal rights from people who choose to spend the night in an overnight sleeping room or go into a bar knowing smoke is present.

Legislation can, and too often does, go too far. Alcohol has potential for danger and harm. So do cars and motorcycles, oil rigs, bicycles, extreme sports, overeating, extramarital affairs, stress and worry, and any number of other things, but legislating bans in certain circumstances is tricky business.

The 2009 Senate recently passed SB2070, sending to the House a bill that would make it illegal to smoke in a car when a person younger than 16 is in the vehicle. That bill makes more sense, because it is directed at protecting those who can't likely protect themselves (the law will likely be difficult to enforce).

Unfortunately, some of those elected to public office begin to believe they know what is best for everyone, without getting input from anyone (or sometimes just a few). The beliefs can come from special interest groups and lobbying. Or other times they magically appear from some sort of inner confidence that lacks evidence or justification.

HB1213 is too much government in our lives - something we don't need.

The Tribune believes addictive and excessive smoking is unwise and harmful. But this bill is too intrusive. A committee hearing was held in late January, and we recommend a no-pass designation.