It's happened in Huntington and Charleston and now the city of Ashland might be smoke free.

The City Commission passed a first reading at Thursday night’s meeting that would ban smoking in public places like restaurants and office buildings. A lot of people who light up say they're getting burned.

Robert McGowan has smoked cigarettes since age 10. The thought of a smoking ban in Ashland doesn't set well with him.

McGowan says, “Give us an area to smoke, but don't push us ash tray people. We will retaliate. It's not fair.”

Ashland’s City Commission passed it's first reading of a proposed city-wide smoking ban. Former Mayor David Welch spearheaded the smoking ban campaign. “Particularly with the Surgeon General's report stating second hand smoke is dangerous.”

Like most restaurants in town, Katie's Corner still allows smoking and we heard mixed reactions from patrons and management.

Shirley Allen comments, “I see a point but they're taking away our rights.”

Kimberly Lewis and her friends don't smoke and they don't have a problem with those who do.
“You don't have to come to a smoking establishment. There are plenty of places that don't allow it as it is.”

Whether or not a smoking ban would hurt business is still up in the air.

Again, the commission just passed the first reading. The second reading will be next month and if it passes, the smoking ban would not go into effect until October. Keep in mind this is just for the City of Ashland not other towns in Boyd County.