If you live in New Jersey it is important you read this email and get involved. And even for those who don't live in New Jersey, I urge you to get involved too. Because other states may be watching and will follow suit. And your state may be next.
A bill was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, sponsored by Senators Joseph Vitale and Ellen Karcher, that would ban the purchase of cigarettes through the Internet or through mail-order services in New Jersey .
The bill, S693, and its corresponding bill S2401, would make it unlawful to ship cigarettes to anyone in New Jersey.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration. If approved, it would then go to the Assembly before going to the New Jersey Governor's Office for final approval.
You can read the bill here:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/S1000/693_I1.HTM
This bill is an outrage! They want to ban a legal product online. Cigarettes!
Get involved!
Here is a suggested letter you can send. Feel free to change the letter around to state your own opinions and to suit your own tastes.
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Dear (Name),
I oppose Bill S693 and corresponding S2401 and the attempt to ban cigarette purchases on the internet or by mail order. How is it that a person can buy guns, ammunition, condoms, porno, etc. on the internet in the state of New Jersey, but NOT cigarettes?
Cigarettes are a LEGAL product. Furthermore, to deny competition from out of state retailers severely puts limits on the freedom of choice for adult consumers to purchase brands that are simply not available in this state.
This bill unduly interferes with interstate commerce, conflicts with the U.S. Federal Government's free trade policy, and is unconstitutional.
Frankly, the State of New Jersey is engaged in discrimination against a group of citizens (smokers) and penalizing them with a regressive tax simply because politicians refuse to show restraint in controlling state spending.
I, for one, am tired of the civil rights of smokers being violated in this state, and around the country, and demand a return to the United States Constitution in which "we the people" includes smokers too.
I urge you to vote against any bill that would ban the purchase of cigarettes via the internet or by mail order.
I will watch how you vote so I can vote accordingly in the next election.
Sincerely,
(Name)
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If you live in New Jersey, go here to find who your senator is in your district and how to contact them:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/default.asp
=> To Contact the Sponsors and Co-Sponsor of this Bill:
Senator Joseph F. Vitale
87 Main St.
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Phone: (732)-855-7441
SenVitale@njleg.org
Senator Ellen Karcher
400 West Main Street, 3rd Floor
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732)-462-8883
SenKarcher@njleg.org
Senator Barbara Buono
100 Plainfield Ave. Suite 1
Edison, NJ 08817
Phone: (732)-819-8141
SenBuono@njleg.org
=>To get in touch with New Jersey's Governor Jim McGreevey visit this link:
http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html
I hope you take 5 minutes out of your time to get involved. If smokers sit back and do nothing... then our rights will be trampled even further and we will deserve our own fate.
Speak up and let your voice be heard. Because the more of us that speak, the more powerful our voice becomes.
Get involved!
=> Please spread the word to your smoking friends.
Al Martinovic
I Need Smokes.com |
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ineedsmokes
Newbie
Joined: Sep 08, 2003
Posts: 1
Location: New Jersey, USA
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