H.R. 5912

[chainsnuser]

Boston snus party?

Shouldn't it better be a "Boston cigarette party"? :lol:

Cheers!

[ace]

To all American members: if you want to write your representative about this issue, you can do so by visiting https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml . I recommend you also look at http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa020199.htm for some tips on how to write a good letter. I just wrote to mine. Here is the letter I sent, with personal details omitted. Please do not use it word-for-word. If several representatives receive the same letter, then it will look like a form letter and that may diminish its impact.

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Dear Representative ...,

I am writing to you today about House Bill H.R.5912, sponsored by Representative John McHugh of New York, which would make it illegal to mail cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and roll-your-own-tobacco.

In an article on Mr. McHugh's web site, he states that the purpose of this bill is to prevent children from obtaining tobacco by ordering it online and receiving it through the mail. I have also read that this bill is meant to prevent tax fraud, since some people apparently purchase cigarettes online without paying the taxes for which they are liable.

In my view, H.R.5912 is too extreme. Tobacco is a perfectly legal product for American adults to purchase and consume, and it obviously does not represent a safety hazard to postal workers when it is wrapped up in a shipping box. Ordering tobacco online, or through catalogs, gives American adults freedom of choice. Many types of specialty tobacco products are simply not available in local stores, most of which carry only products from the major tobacco companies. We do not need to strip away this freedom of choice from all American adults in order to protect children and enforce our tax laws. Instead, we should crack down on retailers that sell to minors, just as we do for over-the-counter sales, and continue to educate children and parents on the dangers of tobacco. Also, taxes for online purchases are successfully collected every day in markets ranging from books to clothes to electronics. We have the means to enforce our tax laws in the electronic marketplace and we should use them.

I used to smoke organic, additive-free cigarettes. When I first moved into this district, I discovered the nearest store to sell them was 45 minutes away. I was lucky to find the product, but had it been unavailable, at least I could have ordered it through the mail. I no longer smoke, but I do use a hard-to-find form of smokeless tobacco. It used to be available in a specialty shop downtown, but they no longer carry it. I must now order this product through the mail. I have friends who enjoy specialty cigars and pipe tobacco which are not available locally. They also order through the mail. The economic system of our country is successful precisely because consumers have choices. Enacting this legislation would deny the freedom of choice to a significant segment of the population. In my view, this is not consistent with the spirit of this great country.

I humbly ask that you oppose this bill in whatever manner you can. Should you have an opportunity to vote on it, I ask that you please vote against it. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,
...

[TropicalBob]

Truly excellent letter, absent the hysteria sometimes evoked by hot-button issues.