I am one of California's anti-smoking advocates referred to in The Daily Collegian's editorial, "Outdoor Smoking Bans: Government lacks power to legislate lifestyles," March 21. While the editorial focuses on the issue of individual rights, it makes no mention of the rights of nonsmokers to be protected from toxic secondhand smoke.

The new Calabasas policy does not ban smoking outright. It is, however, a bold attempt to limit smoking in settings where it is most likely to harm others including children, seniors, and people with asthma and other respiratory problems.

Yes, there are certainly other toxic air contaminants with which we must contend in Los Angeles and other major metropolitan areas. But that does not mean that we should ignore the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in fighting the number one preventable cause of death in America.