Tobacco saves lives?

That was the headline that came to me reading this AP story in yesterday's Sun-Times. (Don't blame the newspaper for this; it had a different headline.)

And I had plenty of time to read the paper yesterday morning, thanks to the CTA.

Anyway, the story is that Ruth Wright, a cashier at a Des Moines, Iowa Cigarette Outlet, "snuffed out" a robbery attempt on Friday, April 11 by hurling two cans of tobacco at the knife-wielding, masked robber. One of the cans hit the would-be robber in the face, distracting him long enough for a customer to tackle him.

The customer may have become short of breath before he could subdue the felon; in any event, the masked man broke free and ran away.

But -- in this case -- and with tongue firmly in cheek (and, I suppose, with just a pinch between the teeth and gum) -- it may apparently be said that tobacco saved lives.