New Hampshire Chooses Death

New Hampshire's state motto is "Live free or die." Well, according to a recent article in the Union Leader, it seems the people of that once great state have had their fill of liberty:

A bill to ban smoking in all restaurants and cocktail lounges passed in the New Hampshire Senate yesterday after nearly two hours of debate.

By a 17-7 vote, the Senate passed SB 42, which now goes to the House, where it passed easily last year.

Sen. David Gottesman, D-Nashua, prime sponsor of the bill, said the question was a simple matter of good public health policy, protecting both customers and workers from second-hand smoke.

Noting that a survey last year showed 79 percent of the public supports the ban, Gottesman said, "The people of New Hampshire have made up their minds on the issue and it's the responsibility of the Legislature to take definitive action."

First, that whole Free State Project thing didn't work out, and now this. Rest in peace, New Hampshire. You held out as long as you could, but it looks as if you'll finally be joining the rest of us.

The least you could do is get a new state motto. How about "Dying is easier than living free"?