Support our troops with smokeless tobacco!

[Tobakssmak]

No problem, I'm just glad I can help. It's the least I can do, really. I hope they enjoy it.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Wow! Nice work!

[SNUS'r]

GI to GI Snus Offer

Helllo everyone,

First off this is not an attempt to hijack this thread, I appreciate the support that everyone is giving our troops stationed overseas.

So here is the deal, I am one of those troops stationed in the Middle East right now and did the pre-PACT act stock up. I got a little carried away and now have snus comming out of my ears with the 2 for 1 Jackobs offers that Northern.com was offering.

I'd be willing to part with some of it if someone here in Middle East wants some. I'd just ask they pay me what I paid for it. I would ship it APO to APO and there would be no addtional costs for shipping.

If anyone is interested, please send me a PM and we can work the details out.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Thankyou for your service, SNUS'r!

[xrt]

Good thread. Hope they enjoy the snus !

[myuserid]

This is such a great idea. You guys are awesome.

I hope our troops get a chance to sit down and enjoy some great snus.

[Roo]

A donation is going out to AFWife's husband this week. It won't be huge because she already ordered him some from buysnus. I feel bad for taking so long. As soon as RobS's grandiose act of genuine altruism arrives (again) a big fat box is going out to some troops in Khost, SE Afghanistan. Snus'r, thank you for your service. Come to think of it, I've never said that to my best friend. Anyway, thanks.

[Roo]

AFWife, I'm at the post office right now sending a 10- can variety pack to your husband. Let us know how he likes the selection! Sorry it took so long.

EDIT: Stupid PACT! Argh. I was honest on my customs declaration form and it didn't get me very far at all. The lady said "oh no you can't mail tobacco anymore..." I explained I was under the impression that APO addresses were exepmt from PACT, so she went and got her little print-out, meanwhile a huge line is forming behind me, so I tell her to give me the papers and I would read all the clauses and shit. Well, some APO address's are exempt, but others are not -- it depends on the country to which you are mailing tobacco. In this case it is an airforce base in Yemen. So after 30 minutes on the phone with a postal rep, it was determined that Yemen APO's are note exempt from PACT. So, naturally, I still have the package. I'll try to get it to UPS after work today -- I just noticed a UPS Store a few blocks away today. If I had done this yesterday, no problems. PACT officially starts today. Bullshit.

[Monkey]

That is pretty crappy news Roo. Does UPS deliver to APO's?

This is the most depressing part of the PACT I have seen. I can handle paying the taxes, retailers caught in the crunch and everything up in the air, but when the government takes away the ability of its citizens to support those abroad fighting for the laws they enact by sending tobacco through USPS I am disgusted. ALL APO's should be exempt from this law. It is amazing how at least one our representatives could not even think of this and push for it.

I'm going to stew on this for a little and when the anger subsides, I'm writing some letters with clear thoughts.

As for now, I'm pretty pissed at this turn of events. No matter where they are in the world, our troops should be able to receive a care package from the USPS if it contains tobacco.

[AFWife]

Hey all here is something that i just found....
TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The father of a local soldier serving in Afghanistan is raising a red flag Tuesday night about a ban on sending tobacco products to our troops overseas.

This involves the PACT ACT which limits Indian retailers from sending untaxed smokes through the U.S. Mail, but it apparently may also limit the troops from getting packages from home with tobacco.

Town of Tonawanda father Vince Dellapenta got a call yesterday morning from his son serving with the Army in Afghanistan.

Dellapenta said, "My son said any tobacco products that you have for me at home, ship 'em out now."

He had been told that after July 14th, he won't be able to receive tobacco through the US Mail anymore.

"Is this the time when you want to try to force somebody to try to quit smoking or using tobacco while they're out in the desert or mountains in Afghanistan. I don't think so. They don't need the added stress, said Dellapenta.

Vince immediately emailed his Military Family Readiness Group, which pointed out that there was an exception in the PACT ACT allowing tobacco to be mailed through military express mail, but that might not be enough to get the tobacco to the troops.

Dellapenta also added, "After looking at the final bill, the exemption for our military isn't there."

"I mean they don't have the PX available out there, so how else are they gonna get the stuff to them if we can't send it to them," stated Dellapenta.


So Tuesday afternoon, News 4 took the question to US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand who was in Buffalo visiting a job readiness site on Grant Street.

Senator Gillibrand said, "For those parents, I would urge them to call my office because there's no reason that they should be denied access to normal commerce for their sons and daughters that are serving in our military. The PACT ACT is only designed to keep young kids from getting access to cigarettes on line. That's the only purpose and if it has any other impact we will make sure that's not the impact."

[BiggieB]

Kinda new here, saw this thread, and once I saw the start date my first thought was "can this continue postPACT?" I'd love to help my countrymen out, but is it possible now? I don't know anyone personally to ship to, but I'd like to help. If it's still legal now, and anyone has recommendations as far as recipients and shipping, let me know.

[danielan]

Senator Gillibrand said, "For those parents, I would urge them to call my office because there's no reason that they should be denied access to normal commerce for their sons and daughters that are serving in our military. The PACT ACT is only designed to keep young kids from getting access to cigarettes on line. That's the only purpose and if it has any other impact we will make sure that's not the impact."

So, she didn't even read it...

[BiggieB]

So, she didn't even read it...

You don't seem surprised! Any time I hear a politician say some new law (restriction) is "for the children" I bend over, because I know I'm either going to be taking it in the wallet or, even worse, in my personal freedoms. To the elite MFers in DC, or any other cesspool of politicians the world over, we are all "children" and every little thing they do to line their own pockets and the pockets of their cronies is for our own good. Bastards. . .

[Roo]

Thanks for bumping this thread. I have prepared a massive donation thanks to the wonderful members aforementioned in this thread, and I'm almost all set to mail it to an APO address in Afghanistan. While I'm at it, I will try again to mail the donation I prepared to AFWif'es husband as well. Lurking Feds be damned (yeah right), I will lie on the custom forms, unlike I did before. I don't have much personally to lose, as I am no stranger to breaking the law and I highly doubt any repercussions, but anyone who has donated please speak up if you object. Of course, the snus might be confiscated. Thanks, Roo

[Roo]

That is pretty crappy news Roo. Does UPS deliver to APO's?

No. At least not to Oman (I was mistaken; not Yemen but Oman). I tried the UPS store too. And according to the last post, Afghanistan is off limits too. If I feel I can't safely send all of your donations in disguise, please understand that I will send it back. And contact me, preferably when I'm not drunk. That means before 8PM PST. All donated snus is still in the original boxes in my fridge. Your feedback is appreciated.