The point is it's not fear mongering to recognize the end game of the
tobacco act is to severely handicap any tobacco product and anti smoking is to marginalized anyone who still uses.
My apologies, but I'm not understanding second part of this after "and anti smoking...."
I don't see it as fear mongering to consider what you are saying in first part. But to state it as matter of fact, and change "severely handicap" to language that reads as "will kill vaping" (period) is what I am calling the fear mongering.
I'm okay getting away from label of fear mongering, if we can all agree that such assertions are counterproductive to where we are right now. Actually, that is too challenging to establish (that we all agree) but I'm mainly saying that we can discuss/debate a position that says, let's consider what current proposed regulations are saying (exactly, via quotes) and how that relates to severely handicapping eCigs as tobacco products going forward. I believe most, if not all, are willing to engage in that discussion, and some of us may have strong disagreements. But the side that says, there is no discussion to be had, these regulations will kill vaping, are the people I am applying that label to.
Regulations will surely change the landscape. And regulations won't be a one time thing. Let's say they go into full effect on 1/1/18 (just hypothetically speaking), then I imagine government regulators who still feel authority from Tobacco Act, plus all people in the ANTZ camp will be pushing for harsher regulations than what exists at that moment. And will not let up on being as absolutely harsh as possible toward vapers/vaping industry.
Even if FDA's scientists, lawyers and leaders fully agreed with vaping rights, I don't see our opposition sitting back and concluding that there isn't a fight to be had. Even under this made up, and entirely wishful scenario, I find our future to be troublesome.
But given our momentum, our political will, the science and truth of vaping, I have attitude of "we can handle this."
We don't accept any regulations on vaping that are unreasonable. Read as zero. We really really ought to not accept any bans on vaping (including, and especially to the kids). Read as zero bans are okay.
And yet, some bans are apparently okay for our side, as noted in what I just said above. So, we learn to accept what makes most sense to us going forward, and which is realistic with in current political landscape, and we persevere with attitude of "we can handle this."
I see vaping industry, 3 years from now, being in better position financially than it is today, and I see that including products that BT doesn't market, produce or have anything to do with. Yet, it does include an industry that is being regulated. And is constantly being threatened with political items that are arguably far more scary than what this current proposal seeks to regulate.
But even then, I hope I'm on side of "we can handle this."