By NJToday Contributor Dick Sheeran

If some people in Cape May get their way, there could be no butts on the beach — cigarette butts that is.

A recent attempt at banning smoking on the beach failed in the City Council. But the desire among some to stop smoking still burns.

The issue is controversial. There are those who say enjoying a day at the beach should not include soaking up second-hand smoke from somebody puffing away on the next blanket.

On the other hand, there are libertarians who view a smoking ban as a puff too far. That even though smoking is deemed to be dangerous, unhealthy and smelly, people who want to subject their lungs to the fumes should have the right to do so.

There are already a lot of no no’s on New Jersey beaches. For example, a big sign as you enter the beach in Atlantic City says “no loud music, no ball or frisbee tossing, no dogs, no barbeques, no open fires.” But it doesn’t say “no smoking.”

There are other issues to consider besides second-hand smoke or the right to choose to smoke. Such as the economy, or more specifically, tourist dollars.

For example, some Cape May merchants worry about their Canadian customers who do smoke. Would a beach smoke ban keep them from coming or drive them to nearby towns like Wildwood where smoking on the beach is permitted?

Speaking of Wildwood, it recently decided to allow horseback riding on the beach. Now before you bring up the issue of what the horses might leave behind vs. cigarette butts, be advised horses are only allowed on the beach from October 1 to April 30 when not very many sun worshippers are lying on their blankets. And besides, horses are a lot prettier than cigarettes.

The Cape May Council voted 2-2 on the ban, failing to pass it. But the council promises to revisit the issue.

New Jersey has some of the finest beaches in the world. I personally recall sitting on the beach in the Principality of Monaco on the French Riviera. The surf consisted of rocks. I thought “this is what the world’s rich and famous call a beach?” They need to come to Cape May or any town north of it — whether they smoke or not.

Dick Sheeran is a veteran television news reporter and former anchor of CBS3-TV, Philadelphia.