Bishop says people should be able to have sex, smoke in their private office

State Sen. Charles Bishop, who is not unaccustomed to headlines, shocked some of his colleagues on Thursday with a comment during a debate on anti-smoking legislation.
"When someone can't smoke or have sex in their private office, we're in bad shape," said Bishop, R-Arley.
Bishop and some of his colleagues were offering amendments to a bill by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, that would ban smoking in most public places. Exceptions to the ban include private clubs, private homes, certain designated hotel rooms and tobacco bars.
His amendment would have allowed people to smoke in their own private offices, which Figures objected to. She also seemed shocked about his comments.
Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega, did successfully offer an amendment that would allow a business owner to decide if they want smoking in a restaurant that also serves alcoholic beverages. Figures offered an amendment trying to delete that language, which failed.
Bishop said the government cannot continue to infringe on people's rights. He said he was serious about the smoking in a private office, but was joking about sex.
Bishop, who smokes a pipe, said he has an office at the business he runs and should be able to smoke in it.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen