Irony Alert: Pipe smoking banned at pipe smoking convention

A huge win for the Nanny State as pipe smokers learn they'll have to enjoy their convention without actually smoking their pipes:

ST. CHARLES, Ill., May 3 (UPI) -- The United States' largest gathering of pipe smokers is being held near Chicago but none are lighting up inside the convention center, aficionados lament.

Illinois law requires pipe smokers attending the Chicagoland International Pipe & Tobacciana Show to retreat to a tent 15 feet away from the St. Charles convention center if they want to enjoy a puff or two, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.

This is a case of the law protecting unsuspecting citizens who, before the "15-foot rule," might have mistakenly wandered into a PIPE SMOKERS CONVENTION not knowing that they would be subjected to actual pipe smoking. A victory for the common dolt!

Organizers had sought unsuccessfully to get an exception to the state law that went into effect this year, arguing it was essentially a private club meeting.

That argument didn't fly with anti-smoking advocates.

"This is the first time we've seen such a blatant attempt ... to actually undermine the law through legal sophistry," said Mike Grady of the American Cancer Society in Illinois. "We're very happy with the outcome. This is the perfect example that the law is being enforced."

The first time they've seen a blatant attempt to undermine the law through legal sophistry? Is that a joke? I guess that depends on what the meaning of "is" is.