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by Ixtlan
on Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:32 pm |
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Internet Sales of Tobacco products to be made illegal in Utah.
Senate Bill 228 is a disgrace to Utah and a direct affront to the freedoms of people in this state.
I find the Utah Senate passed it without any na's recorded.
I discussed this bill with my senator many times prior to passing.
I wish to point out the simple fact that quality pipe tobaccos cannot be purchased from retailers in this state.
Utah contains nothing more than head shops that sell cigarettes.
I had no choice but to mail order in any quality pipe tobaccos I may wish to consume.
Might I add as a LEGAL activity in this nation.
My senator also voted Yea for this bill.
I can assure you that I will not support him in the next election.
I refuse to support any representative that would vote for restrictions of the freedoms of citizens of this state.
I would disagree with the premise that Utah is losing tax revenue from Internet sales of cigarettes.
The tax revenues lost if any are so small that simply trying to enforce the rule would
cost more than the revenue gained.
This would be a net loss to the citizens of the state and waste of resources.
This is why the state does not enforce the sales tax for Internet purchases now.
Secondly the requirement for a retailer to become Licensed to sale item in Utah is ludicrous.
The fee required from the state is far to high to make this a sound business choice.
Internet sales are far too small for the individual retailer to justify the fee.
And most sales of the Tax Free cigarettes are done from reservations that are tax exempt.
This bill should be challenged in court and once again the states citizens are on the losing end.
Imagine attempting to tax the sale of cigarettes sold at the federal installations in Utah now.
If this bill is passed it would require the same restrictions be placed on the Federal properties in
the state now. Would it not?
Control of age for purchase is also a misnomer.
This bill does not restrict the sales of tobacco products to minors only.
But requires a Face to Face transaction.
It is obviously an attempt to restrict any sales into this state.
All retailers I am aware of require the purchaser to verify their age and that they meet the state of residence
age restrictions.
Is the state of Utah to assume it's citizens are dishonest?
I would surly hope we would be innocent until proven guilty.
Underage buyers rarely if ever purchase from the internet anyway. A credit card is generally required for purchase
and those of underage status rarely possess them.
This plainly is yet another attempt to restrict the citizens of the state of Utah from doing what is considered Non Politically Correct.
Yet is still a legal and enjoyed form of recreation for many of us.
A choice we make of our own free will and guaranteed by the constitution.
It is unfair, unjust, and absolutely a violation of my freedoms of choice.
I have written my State Representatives and Fight This type of legislation.
I would highly recommend you do the same and stop this type of nonsense.
Also I would seriously look into the Interstate trade laws of this nation. |
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Ixtlan
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by JohnC
on Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:26 pm |
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paullys ,
Have you tried Craigs List? |
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JohnC
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by ToFearMyself
on Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:46 am |
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The state of Utah I am not too familiar with but, as time goes on, it will most likely change.
However, smoking bans and laws are changing across the whole of the United States, if not throughout the world and, as such, it is forcing those of us who once stood by helplessly to take the stand you have already started upon.
Now, I've been a smoker, myself, for around five years. At the same time, I have been fighting for the rights of smokers for some time. Being that most politicians see me as this random, 26 year old kid means that usually, my opinion is taken for granted, and I am given less than a grain of salt.
Still, Utah, like North Dakota like Montana like Minnesota, etc. is getting nailed to the wall with these regulations from folks that haven't any idea what it means to have freedoms and liberties to the fullest extent. We are trying to get through to the statesmen, here in Montana, to slow down and cut back on the regulations that are knocking the chair out from under the majority of the citizens here.
I do feel you, and if I could more-easily express that it's not simply Utah that's getting hit, I would. I've not been able to smoke my favourite brand, for the problem that I earn in wages far less than what it costs to maintain at a carton a month--prices in this region just went up. Dramatically. |
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ToFearMyself
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by Ixtlan
on Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:14 pm |
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Well Utah just passed the law.
Restricting Interstate Trade is against the Commerce Act.
And a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
However I sincerely doubt that anyone will do anything about it.
Since it will require large amounts of money to challenge this in court, Utah lawmakers
know that nobody will attempt to take on the States pockets.
Once again the minority group will have yet another Right taken from them.
It is a sad day for sure for those of us behind the Zion Curtain. |
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Ixtlan
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by JohnC
on Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:56 pm |
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Ixtlan wrote: Well Utah just passed the law.
Restricting Interstate Trade is against the Commerce Act.
And a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
However I sincerely doubt that anyone will do anything about it.
Since it will require large amounts of money to challenge this in court, Utah lawmakers
know that nobody will attempt to take on the States pockets.
Once again the minority group will have yet another Right taken from them.
It is a sad day for sure for those of us behind the Zion Curtain.
Call the ICC --- They should care for the situation ---if they can remember who they work for 
-J.C.- |
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by Ixtlan
on Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:06 am |
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I am not sure but I think Huntsman vetoed this.
Status of bill is listed as:
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
I think that means it was Vetoed.
It was a Piss Poor law and written horribly.
Right On if he did. |
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Ixtlan
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by Ixtlan
on Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:27 pm |
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Apparently it was not Vetoed but just clarified between the house and senate.
I emailed the Governor with this letter:
S.B. 228 Substitute
Prohibition on Internet or Mail-order Sales of Tobacco Products
"Governor Huntsman I am writing again to ask you to Veto this Bill.
It is poorly written and will have no effect on keeping cigarettes from children. But it will have the effect of restricting access to products that I as an adult enjoy and have no other source but to mail order into this state.
I am a pipe smoker and Utah Tobacco shops are not disposed to ordering or stocking the tobaccos I desire.
Utah tobacco stores are little more than Head Shops that sell cigarettes, and find this disgraceful. What pipe tobaccos they do sell are loaded with chemicals and I find the taste is horrible.
I am all for retailers verifying age before filling orders and all shops I have dealt with do just that. Underage kids that get cigarettes rarely do this through the Internet. The bill is nothing more than feel good legislation that will have no effect on the problem. But this Bill is highly restrictive to those as myself that desire to carry on a tradition as old as this country itself.
This Bill is also Unconstitutional as it restricts my freedom of choice to pursue a legal activity.
I also find that this Bill is against Federal Laws and in direct violation of the Interstate trade laws of this nation as well as the Interstate Commerce Act.
Please Veto this Bill and show that someone in the Utah Government has some sense of responsibility as to the Rights and Freedoms of Individual Citizens of this state.
Thank You"
Targeting individual groups of people with taxes and laws is not new.
They have been targeting smokers for over two decades now.
And most of you just sat back and let it ride because you were non smokers.
And what about the Gas Guzzler tax?
Tell me that isn't a target group.
Give an inch, lose a mile.
Some of us have been harping this for decades and basically were ignored.
I find it funny that most don't give a crap until it hits home or they are threatened by a trend in legislation.
A Democracy does not require that all agree. But it does require participation.
One of the Founding Fathers said that.
That includes even if it does not directly affect YOU.
I suggest that those that care about our freedoms do the same. |
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Ixtlan
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by dumpstermcnuggets
on Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:24 am |
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I looked very closely on the official Utah Senate website, and for whatever reason, could not find the search function to look up language of bills, and/or the status of bills.
However, I did find this link on Gov. Huntsman's website, and wanted to know why SB 228 was listed on this site as this bill, SB 228, Regulation of Wells; Sen. Margaret Dayton. Was the language prohibiting mail-order sales of tobacco products inserted into another bill as an amendment, or can someone here post a link to the full language of this bill? The Utah Senate site unfortunately isn't the most user-friendly site, when it comes to looking up bills introduced by state senate lawmakers.... |
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dumpstermcnuggets
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by Ixtlan
on Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:38 am |
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Ixtlan
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by Ixtlan
on Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:46 pm |
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Utah's governor signed the bill today.
Yet another freedom stripped from the citizens of Utah.
Whats next? |
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Ixtlan
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