I heard several years ago that the left could not get our guns so they'd get our ammo. I passed that off as paranoia or some mental disorder. O.K. 9mm plinking ball was $9.00/c and is now $22.00/c. The bad thing is that my dealer can hardly get it at that.
But, I digress.
Now arises the price ploy from the anti-smokers. They kicked us out of public places and heaped on moral attacks. Heck, they even started tales about the revered Marlboro Man. Now the ultimate attack, smokes for $5.20 a pack. Damn, a fellow has to quit. How else am I gonna get my $12.00 CCI std. vel. .22s when MidWay gets 'em back in stock?

I see the conspiracy. Gun owner angels = conservatives, right? Tobacco State angels = conservatives, right? Conservatives are in hiding, so can't you see?

There's this area 69 thing out there in Wyoming or something like that....

One of you guys got a smoke?

I heard several years ago that the left could not get our guns so they'd get our ammo. I passed that off as paranoia or some mental disorder. O.K. 9mm plinking ball was $9.00/c and is now $22.00/c. The bad thing is that my dealer can hardly get it at that.
But, I digress.
Now arises the price ploy from the anti-smokers. They kicked us out of public places and heaped on moral attacks. Heck, they even started tales about the revered Marlboro Man. Now the ultimate attack, smokes for $5.20 a pack. Damn, a fellow has to quit. How else am I gonna get my $12.00 CCI std. vel. .22s when MidWay gets 'em back in stock?

I see the conspiracy. Gun owner angels = conservatives, right? Tobacco State angels = conservatives, right? Conservatives are in hiding, so can't you see?

There's this area 69 thing out there in Wyoming or something like that....

One of you guys got a smoke?

Well....there is that thing of smokers suck.

Emory

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Hard To Kill

Just heard today, that a bill being pushed through my state, will add another $1.03 tax per pack. The feds are adding another $2.00 federal tax per pack very soon. That puts a pack of smokes at $8.20

At that rate, had I not quit, it would be costing me $5986.00 per year. About what a case of Winchester primers will soon cost!

WG840

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Freedom above all else.

Bad comparison.
While almost all forms of the shooting sports have some merit, smoking has no merit.
It's just a personal choice of whether one wishes to be addicted to a proven harmful substance that will empty wallets and increase health care costs.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I smoke too, and I heard about this a couple of weeks ago. I would like to quit at some point. My dad died last year of lung cancer, but I love smoking! I know the risks, but I know I should quit.

I know how you feel. We are made to seem as if we are second class citizens. Our rights are being infringed upon. It is hard to even find a place outside to smoke anymore. How much harm is that to anyone but me?

I understand the health costs. In fact, I heard on the radio today that smokers should actually pay $8.50 a pack to cover the true cost of smoking, if you want to include the cost of health care to deal with the ill effects of smoking.

My question is, is when will they start taxing the obese???!!! This is a group of people who are growing faster than any smoking, drinking group of people out there, and you can't tell me that their health costs are not skyrocketing! It is probably too PC to tax anything that will harm this group!

I meant it all in jest. Sorta toungue in cheek like skoal. I doubt you'll find many dying in the wool smokers who'll not say it is a filthy, expensive habit. It is a ssad that the conservatives who stood for gunners and smokers have been outmoved by the left leaning Goreites. They could not legislate big tobacco out but the taxes are doing that. I spoke in jest but how much truth is in what's been spoken about by a half dozen Billy-Bobs I've heard say that the anti-gunners are behind the ammo shortage.

Guns are in mysterious absence in the appearance of the gun racks in dealer's shelves around here. Ruger mk III's are virtually not to be found and the ammo for them is scarce. A fellow in the throes of nicotine detox has to wonder about some of these juxtapositions.

Can't do that. Too many of us on this forum would have to curtail our hobby.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Hey, old Barack is a smoker.

I watched them film a Marlboro Man commercial once, I was camping with a bunch of Sportsmobile owners on the ranch where they have their corral. The corral is on a fairly steep slope so it looks right against the mountains in the background.

They had, IIRC, an ambulance ready in case anybody got hurt. They had a guy in a golf cart who drove around sprinkling stuff on the ground before each take so that the horses would stir up "dust" just right.

It was a real pretty spot, however, on the river near Moab.

We had some fun 4-wheeling with our Ford E-350s, too.

The rancher rents it out for lots of movie stuff.

We had our catered meals on a set for the movie where Bill Murray inherits the elephant from his dad. The set was for where they save the adobe church from falling down. Just an interesting place.

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Regulate Banks, not guns

Kinda like those that drink alcohol all the time.

And NO ONE is paying for the healthcare cost of this smoker. I have paid for my own insurance since I was 16, so when my health takes a ****, I've paid for it several times over.

But just to be clear, I do agree there are rude smokers out there (standing right by front doors so people have to walk through it, lighting up in cars with no consideration of the non-smokers riding with them, etc.), and they are the ones I'd like to smack.

The government should not be taxing the obese or smokers. At the same time, the government should not be spending one thin dime on anyones healthcare. If someone wants to spend there life savings fighting diabetes or lung cancer then fine. The more efficient members of society will be more than glad to take that money in exchange for medical care, while others of us get their house, car, guns, etc. on the cheap.

Yep, fat people suck too.

They’re forever going to eat when it’s time to get something done at work, then come back stinking up the office with their belching and farting, and you just know they throw their garbage on the ground when no one’s looking. They’re awful tough on the chairs too.

Emory

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Hard To Kill

The RKBA is a RIGHT. Smoking on the other hand is a behavior that is going out of fashion for a variety of reasons, such as greater understanding of the health problems it causes-cf the anti-smoking commcercials Yul Brynner mad to be realsed after his death from lung cancer. Never smoked myself, several family members have quit and are glad for it. I do recall what my instructor in Econ 101 said, I forget his exact words, but he noted the illogic and hypocrisy in taxing something to discourage its use while pllaning on the revenue the tax is supposed to bring in.

Let people smoke.
Let people shoot guns.

Why does everyone think something is going to make a difference?

Will

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Ah well, you know...people

How about sugar rich soft drinks, coffee, wine, wiskey, etc....?

How about people and their stinking perfume. I'd rather be in a room full of smokers.

Uh huh, I was in Starbucks today and some young hot chicks came in, I could smell their perfume as crept up behind them, disgusting!

Emory

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Hard To Kill

I work with one of the perfume-heavy women. If I stay around her for more than a few minutes, my sinuses go to heck and I end up with a headache from you-know-where.

There are many things offensive, some affect others in different ways. To me having a smoker around is not much different than having someone starting a trash-fire near me. And the so-called 'considerate smoker' is as rare as the dodo bird.
BTW - when you stop at any major lighted intersection on any highway in the country, look down on the pavement next to the travel lane. Tell me what you see. Tell me what you see by the thousands.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Don't think for a minute they will be satisfied with smokers.

Fattys, boozers, couch potatos, motorcycleists, other 'high risk' sports participents. Your turn is comeing. It won't be forbidden, but if you waste 'THE PEOPLES' healthcare money (that you diddn't ask for) with your reckless lifestyle, you must pay.

And really, who cares? Smokeing is a disgusting, dirty habit. Actualy it feels kinda good to kick the nasty smokers around a little.

Sound familiar? i.e. jews, homos, gypsys, retards, etc. Ya gotta start somewhere, eh?

Empty Ben Hur perfume bottles.

Boy, this thread went to **** in a hurry!

T.

I had to stop smoking. I wasn't getting any more sex.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

I smoke about 6 cigars a day. In the privacy of my home or vehicle. Mickey D can't get his lit. Would somebody out there give him a kick in the chest to get it started? Please.

So, are you equating diabetes w/ lung cancer? And if so, how do you draw that comparison?

Therevjay,

you are right. I worked for a health Insurance company for more than 20 years. You couldn't be a smoker and work for the security dept.

Power currupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!

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PC, censorship
with a smile.

EXACTLY. As you mentioned the real kicker is that if health care is socialized then everyone's health health becomes EVERYONE's business. This is the perfect excuse for limiting freedoms via justification that other's shouldn't pay for another's "unreasonable" risks to health. This is reason #1 to not want socialized medicine.

As a real-world example did you know that pilots as a whole seek fewer treatments for various issues (mental and physical) due to fear of being discriminated against and losing their license?

I predict that a large number of people will no longer seeking treatment for MANY legitimate issues (especially with the federal database in play) and see new 'cash only' clinics opening up for those who wish to seek help without being victimized by the government. The end result is a general increase in suffering and ill-health for our society as a whole. Ironic, isn't it?

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NRA Life Member

Sir, the fun-stiflers never sleep. Guns, tobacco, booze, non-missionary-position sex, fast cars, motorcycles, plain speech, good food, and probably even passing gas are on the agenda.

There's a dedicated cadre of pathetic sociopaths in this world who are dead-set on eliminating anything and everything fun. Some things they regard as dangerous; others they do not enjoy themselves; and still others they don't know how to make money on.

These people have no timeframe, no deadline--they think in terms of generations, not elections. They understand that "The Cause" (whatever it is) will suffer many defeats, but all they need is one victory somewhere, anywhere, to establish precedent. Their faith is such that they firmly believe that they can wear us down by simple persistence, and they're probably right, at least about that.

"Eff" them guys, man. Either stand on liberty for all, or don't be surprised when they come for you next.

Rant off.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Revjay and Ron H are correct of course.
It's a battle I began fighting (on the losing side) back in 1984' (appropriate somehow, don't you think?). The city I was under contract for doing mechanical maintenance decided to intro a smoke free workplace. Which meant, the non-smokers loved it, the smokers hated it, and as a contractor I went out to my car in the parking lot. Well, it's 25 years later now and I quit smoking 5 months ago.
But I must tell you fine folks, they WILL be coming for anything that brings you pleasure, whether it's "legal" or not. For control IS the nature of the beast you confront. And it doesn't matter if it's cigarette's or semi auto's. If someone is offended by it, it's endangered. Far more than any spotted owl ever thought about being...

As a militant, reformed smoker, I have no sympathy.
It's going on everywhere, the proposed raising of the tobacco tax I mean.
IMO it's time for our 'Guv to start cutting, including some entire programs. But most sheeple will just keep going with barely a glance at the ever increasing tax demands.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

I've found most older rabid anti-smoking folks are ex-smokers. They say the flesh has a memory. Could be part of the reason ex-alcoholics don't hang out in bars. The younger folks have been brainwashed by our gubberment schools into thinking one whiff of cigarette smoke and they'll contract lung cancer. All you anti-drinking and anti-smoking folks won't like your tax statement when the gubberment is finally successful in their quest to make everyone stop. Untold billions are collected in tobacco and alcohol taxes that will have to made up somewhere...

Anyone who thinks that an awful lot of what passes for "sensible controls" on individual LEGAL activities isn't a closeted issue of control, had better look up the latin for Ostrich? Even with rudimentary skills of observation one has to admit, the only reason someone can feel comfortable being "militant" about a sub groups behavior, is because it's one of the few "socially acceptable" groups too flog. Don't believe it? Try doing similar to a woman, or a black or a gay a few times and tell me how that works out for you! Nope the fact of the matter is some have traded an addiction to nicotine, for a psychological one. Where the sufferer of the disorder assumes an un-required physical attribute. That of being a hemorrhoid.

Don't smoke, never have but I have my vices. The last man who was truly perfect got nailed to a cross. There's an object lesson there...don't be perfect, it makes too many people uncomfortable.

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Big bang, much smash'em.

Been smoking for the past 59 years and will turn 76 next month. Not the healthiest guy around but none of my problems can be attributed to smoking. That said, any laws prohibiting anything that is legal is nothing more than an infringement on our rights.

both the anti-smoking nonsense and anti-gun nonsense are due to busy bodies and bureaucrats. As I have stated numerous time here before, any time you hear someone say it for our own safety, for the children or for the greater good, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone wants to infringe on someone rights.

I hate busy bodies and bureaucrats.

An earlier post asked when they would start taxing the obese. I realise that not everyone who is obese has diabetes, and not everyone who has diabetes is obese, but often the two go hand in hand. My point was that we should not be using tax dollars to pay for problems caused by obesity or smoking, therefore, we would not need to tax smokers or the obese. If they choose to kill themselves in slow, painful ways then so be it.

So no taxes for married people, then?

Semper Fi,

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Ya'll can go screw yourselves. I get my cigarettes overseas duty free for 1.75 a pack. Maybe there ought to be a law about the way you look. Tax that. Lots of butt ugly people out there. Should raise some revenue.
DW

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"NUTS"

I could go along with extra tax on tobacco if it
indeed went to fund smoker related health care.
But this is not the case. It never is.

The new federal tax increase burdens smokers
with paying for child's health care. And all
the non smokers get a free pass.
If *all* children are going to be eligible for
this aid, *all* of the citizens that should be
pitching in their share.
Not just smokers.
The Texas tax increase two years ago of a buck
a pack goes to fund surveys of school district
property. Again, this is a cost that should be
shared equally by all the taxpayers of that
state or municipality.
The government could care less if we smoke
ourselves to death, or if we pay for future
health care. If they did, the taxes would pay
to cover that issue.

Nope.. When it boils down to it, we are a
target of a money grab from various individuals
who think they know best how people should live
their lives. And they want to control them.
If it's not smoking, it's something else.
Like guns fer instance.

I see them as a bunch of money grubbing little
Hitler clones.
I could care less what these people think about
me smoking. I don't smoke in public places, in
non smokers homes, or even near non smokers out
in the open public spaces.
In other words I keep it in my own area, and if
they don't like it, tuff $&*@.

The non smokers of the world may feel smug that
they are not fixing to be victims of extortion
come April 1, but just wait until it's
something else. Like ammo for instance.

I'm sure I could think of a few more non smoking
related targets that could be addressed by the
money grabbers of this land.

Want to tax me for future smoker health care?
I can live with it as long as it's a reasonable
increase.

But to tax me for totally unrelated things like
property surveys, and child's health care, when
all the non smokers get a free pass?
I'm fixing to see an increase of appx $730 a
year. Just for my danged cigarettes! I smoke
about a carton a week. A tad more than 1 pack a
day.
Just consider the cost to a 2-3 pack a day
smoker, or if more than one person in the
household smokes. We are talking some serious
money. All the while, the non smokers don't
pay a cent. But they benefit equally.
The tax will be far greater than the price of
the product come April 1.
That's just that much less to pay for my own
health insurance. Truly pathetic.

That's like peeing down my back and telling me
it's raining, to quote a movie line.

You've hit on another aspect that deserves discussion. Taxes get raised on cigs, for example, and then that tax money goes towards some "worthy" program or other. Then what happens if less people smoke because of it? It is not as if the "worthy" program goes away. Then taxes need to be raised in some other way to pay for it.

It is similar to what will happen with the "stimulus" package. The increases in welfare and the new make-work programs will not dissappear after the money is spent. We'll have to raise taxes even more to continue them on top of paying the principal and interest on the original stimulus.

state tax hike just raise a carton of Marlbolo's from $50 to $60 overnight.

hell its my last bad habit/vice but its gonna have to go...I know I can stop, but the Mr's....she will go freaking even more nuts than she already is(hormons and crazy gal stuff like that)

told her point blank.....when her head starts to spin all the way around...its getting a 38

how odd.....I saw your post/pics about that today...someplace else(know idea where), I was looking for outfitting idea's for my Cruiser

and heck...lets just legalize pot, what a waste of money is spent on "fighting" that

I never smoked cigarettes. They always made me cough. Didn't see the point.

I like football, don't like soccer. I watch football, don't watch soccer.

This is America, I don't care what you do, as long as you don't actually hurt me. Why do people think they can control others. Something is wrong with them.

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PC, censorship
with a smile.

Quit or buy them overseas. Whatever you do, don't pay the new taxes.

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NRA Life Member

I don't care whether people smoke - just don't come whining to me for me to pay for your related health-care costs. And I've yet to meet a tax that I liked.

But, remind me: which was the constitutional amendment that recognized the right to smoke?

__________________
Now go make God proud...

Right next to the constitutional amendment that says politicians have to be smart and serve the public!

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

Thanks for the response. I understand the point, now.

It’s not so much about control as getting even.

We skinny non-smokers want payback from abuses of the time stealing, stinky, littering, non-armrest sharing fat slokers.

Emory

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Hard To Kill

Change the subject, and it sounds like the class envy that's oh so popular currently, no?