Toledo: Disarmed (smoke-free) citizens, well-armed criminals

Toledo, Ohio is one of the most difficult places in the state to own a firearm. At least, for law-abiding citizens...

The following headlines all appeared in the August 27 issue of the Toledo Blade:

2 holdups reported at convenience stores
Two convenience stores in northwest Toledo were robbed late Monday, and the culprits fled with an undisclosed amount of money in both cases.

Gunman wearing wig robs fast-food eatery
A man wearing a dreadlock wig and a straw hat robbed the McDonald’s at 1225 Collingwood Blvd. late Monday.

Robber hits bank branch on South Reynolds Road

A man claiming to have a gun robbed the National City Bank branch at 4 South Reynolds Rd. and fled with an undisclosed amount of money, authorities said.

Meanwhile, Toledo City Council has enacted a city-wide smoking ban in all public places (including private property like restaurants and bars), and is spending precious city resources to enforce it. According to Toledo's chief counsel, John Madigan, there will be "an army that includes more than 700 police officers and 500 firefighters empowered to issue citations for illegally smoking in bars and restaurants."

They say it's all about protecting public health...the recently renewed ban on inexpensive firearms, and the new one on smoking.

So if you see someone smoking, just call 419-936-STOP. If you see or are the victim of an armed assailant in Toledo, dial 911 and hope you don't have to wait for the police to return from a smoke call.

Now doesn't that sound healthy?