-
-
Subscribe
------------------
------------------
-----------------
Birmingham, Alabama - A $13.3 million federally funded anti-smoking campaign led by a Birmingham public relations firm aimed at making Alabama a smoke-free state will result in a loss of businesses, jobs, tax revenues and citizen rights, according to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.
The PR firm cites recent successes in small Alabama towns which passed no-exception or near no-exception smoking ordinances recently. The firm is next targeting larger communities such as Birmingham, Bessemer, Gardendale, Hoover and Homewood, according to published reports.
"Federal and state governments are relying on tobacco tax revenues to fund SCHIP - State Children’s Health Insurance Program - which provides healthcare for children, yet they are doing their best to put tobacco out of business," said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR.
"The bottom line is Alabama citizens want choice and, most importantly jobs, not Big Brother," McCalla said.
"These are the very same career politicians - many who no doubt ran on a jobs creation platform — now spending tax dollars to pay a PR firm to kill those very same jobs, right in the middle of one the worst economic downturns in the state’s history," he said. "Will someone please explain how that makes any sense?"
McCalla said that the claims of prohibitionists should be challenged as to their source and back up information.
"The 2010 Surgeon General’s Report does question even occasional exposure to secondhand smoke, but those claims have proven to be wildly exaggerated and unsubstantiated. Look it up. They are also contrary to the standards established by another government agency, OSHA - the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA set safe levels for secondhand smoke that are up to 25,000 times higher than the air quality levels found in the average bar or restaurant where smoking is permitted," McCalla said.
This article sponsored bySmokingPipes.com. Please give them some consideration for your next tobacco or pipe purchase. They have a great selection and great prices -SmokingPipes.com
The IPCPR says the well-funded tobacco prohibitionists have been buying breakfasts, lunches and dinners for Alabama opinion leaders in Dothan, Montgomery, Gadsden, Anniston, Huntsville, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Mobile in hopes they will pressure Alabama state and local legislators to deprive business owners of their rights to decide for themselves what their smoking policies should be.
"Legislated smoking bans, for whatever reason, are unnecessary and inexcusable. They deprive business owners their right to make such determinations on their own. Business suffers and jobs are lost under legislated smoking bans. Beyond that, however, the anti-tobacco forces attempt to falsely justify their claims based on bad science, overreaching conclusions and ridiculous assumptions," said McCalla.
"The PR firm - The Modern Brand - should be ashamed of itself for taking the people’s money to manipulate them out of their constitutional rights while jeopardizing their businesses, jobs, and state and federal tax revenues," McCalla said.
11 Responses to “PR Firm Leads $13.3M Campaign Against Citizens Rights”
-->Read More Posts in Pipe News
Most Popular Articles
Burley - The Rodney Dangerfield of Tobacco: By Russ Ouellette "I don't get no respect, no respect at all!" If you're 30 or older, you... 26 comment(s) | 102083 view(s)
The Naked Dublin: A Look at the Work of Jared Coles: Tom Spithaler One of the benefits to being employed by a major firearms manufacturer by day is th... 7 comment(s) | 81729 view(s)
Ask G. L. Pease February 2012 (Volume 10): G. L. Pease The problem with writing a Q&A column is that there's always someone with a questio... 15 comment(s) | 81103 view(s)
Chelsea Smokes a Stanwell Featherweight Sandblasted: I love this shoot. Chelsea looks hot in her jeans and sweater, and she has the most amazing blue eye... 3 comment(s) | 77629 view(s)
The Great Detective and His Pipes: By Russ Ouellette The time is the mid-1880s and the location is London, England, specifically a sec... 35 comment(s) | 64795 view(s)
PR Firm Leads $13.3M Campaign Against Citizens Rights: Birmingham, Alabama - A $13.3 million federally funded anti-smoking campaign led by a Birmingham pub... 11 comment(s) | 64791 view(s)
Indiana Smoking Ban Unnecessary Jobs-Killer: Indianapolis, Indiana - The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association says the ... 6 comment(s) | 59141 view(s)
Pipes Smokers May Be the Next Target of the FDA: By Kevin Godbee U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Sherrod ... 8 comment(s) | 57409 view(s)
McClelland Orient 996 Pipe Tobacco Review: Adam J. Smith Tin Notes: A special blend of sugary bright Virginia and aged, mellow red Virginia, s... 7 comment(s) | 55310 view(s)
Guerilla Marketing: By Russ Ouellette I've been involved in sales and marketing for over 30 years, sometimes for small ... 12 comment(s) | 54806 view(s)
Ask G. L. Pease September 2011: By G. L. Pease It's hard to believe this is already the fifth edition of this no longer new column.... 18 comment(s) | 51838 view(s)
G. L. Pease Lagonda Tobacco Review: G. L. Pease Lagonda just shot to the top of my charts with a bullet! If you like Latakia blends or O... 8 comment(s) | 50910 view(s)
This Isn't Your Grandfather's Pipe: By Kevin Godbee Who smokes a pipe anymore these days? (I mean a wooden pipe with tobacco in it, not... 22 comment(s) | 50826 view(s)
Captain Black Pipe Tobacco Review: Captain Black has got to be one of the best mass-market distributed pipe tobaccos out there. If you ... 41 comment(s) | 50320 view(s)
The Magically Magnetic One-of-a-Kind Pipe Stand: By Cam Schutte There is much tradition associated with pipe smoking that dates back centuries ago. ... 16 comment(s) | 50319 view(s)
A Three Pipe Problem: By Dustin Babitzke Whizzing down I-70 at 75 mph, wind blowing through my hair, the open ... 10 comment(s) | 49057 view(s)
Cynthia Smokes a Nanna Ivarsson Pipe in Leather w/AK-47: Cynthia looks bad-ass smoking a Nanna Ivarsson pipe in her leather jacket, jeans & boots, and no... 2 comment(s) | 48981 view(s)
Balkan Sobranie Re-Release Review And Comparison!: By Adam J. Smith I would like to start this column off by thanking both Mr. Kevin Godbee and PipesM... 36 comment(s) | 48230 view(s)
March 2012 Cartoon Caption Contest Sponsored by SmokingPipes.com: PipesMagazine.com Cartoon Caption Contest Sponsored by SmokingPipes.com Welcome to our 2nd monthl... 4 comment(s) | 47344 view(s)
Cup O' Joes #2 Maricoxi Tobacco Review: Cyndi Dollins, Photos by Paul Arms The tin says this blend is a mix of Broken Virginia, Black Caven... 10 comment(s) | 47134 view(s)
| Pipe Manufacturer & Retailer Spotlight | Pipe News | Pipe of the Week | Pipe Smoking Thoughts | Put that in Your Pipe |
Wine | About
Us | Contact
Us | Links
| Privacy
Policy | Terms
& Conditions | DMCA
Notice | Advertising
| Site Map |
| Getting Published on PipesMagazine.com |
All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2009 - 2012 Right Click Media, LLCThis site, PipesMagazine.com, is not in any way affiliated with Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine.
We are an online magazine & community and do not publish a print version.
We use the SafeSurf Rating System to signify that PipesMagazine.com is for adults only
marmal4de said:
And scenes from George Orwell’s 1984 danced through my head.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
spartan said:
That’s just crazy. Thanks for keeping us updated.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
romeowood said:
Let’s hope the South will rise again for this one.
September 7th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Paul said:
So this is definately our version of prohibition of the 20’s…and we all know how well that worked…
“Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it”
September 7th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
pawpaw said:
what hope do we have when North Carolina where tobacco was once king is now a smoke free state best of luck to ya Bama
September 7th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
markw4mms said:
Let’s just hope the people of Alabama send a clear message to their elected officials that they won’t stand for this.
any politician rubbing elbows with this PR firm needs to get the boot!
September 7th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
unclearthur said:
complete insanity!
September 7th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
J Lee said:
Paid for with ’stimulus’ dollars or similar, no doubt…
September 8th, 2011 at 10:17 am
cortezattic said:
Although I am against entitlement programs of any kind, the Federal “Government” would do better if it used the $13.3 million to help fund SCHIP - State Children’s Health Insurance Program — instead of using it to finance a campaign that will eventually dry up a tax revenue source.
.
In reality I believe that government should not be involved in either SCHIP or anti-tobacco campaigns. Too much government! Too much government!
September 10th, 2011 at 10:00 am
jasongone said:
i agree with cortez… far too much government.
i am greatly disturbed that this state focused program is federally funded.
September 12th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
seanz said:
I want to know where they think all these tax dollars are going to come from if they squash tobacco consumption in both your country and mine. bloody crazy if you ask me
September 12th, 2011 at 7:04 pm