Last year, 38,000 people in Washington died at the hands of secondhand smoke. While not all of them worked in establishments where such an atmosphere is the norm, we feel cutting back on such scenarios is critical in reducing the risk of smoking-related illnesses and death in the future.

Initiative 901 would do this.

I-901 seeks to do away with the existing “smoking sections” in businesses ranging from restaurants and bars to bowling alleys, making them all smoke free. Smoking would not be permitted within 25 feet of doorways and ventilation openings, which, for certain businesses, would be an exercise in futility. Fortunately, I-901 proponents saw that one coming and did allow some discretion on this to local health officials.

Folks who don’t smoke really have no reason not to vote this one in.

Folks who do, well, come on now, it was just a matter of time before this one came up.

Smokers will argue that their rights are being stepped on like so many cigarette butts but non-smokers can certainly counter that their right to breathe fresh air in some establishments has been treated similarly for years.

We think the latter is the stronger argument because we have yet to come across a non-smoker who exhaled in a place of business and gave some smoker cancer. Yet cases of problems caused by secondhand smoke are numerous.

Why not just keep the smoking/non-smoking sections?

Designated areas are a misnomer as — being gaseous in form — smoke tends to float, blow or waft beyond its restricted boundaries. We have yet to find a cloud of smoke that pays attention to state mandates.

Cigarette and cigar smoke is indiscriminate but that doesn’t mean smokers should have that option. In fact, we feel they’ve had that choice for far too long and that this amendment to Washington’s Clean Indoor Air Act is overdue.

Need another reason to vote yes on I-901?

We’ll give you 38,000.