*Allow me to start by apologizing for doing a copypasta of my post from the CA shipment ban thread, but with a little modification, the same points were equally valid and needed. I'm sick as hell today, so I have to limit my crusading somewhat.*
Let me put it this way; the people trying to push this legislation through have zero idea what the ecig community is trying to accomplish, or what we have already done. They don't know anything about the benefits of switching, they don't know anything about how lives have changed, they don't know anything about why we would be up in arms about it. Right now, all they know is that 'smokers' are mad because we are limiting their 'smoking' and they need to get over it.
These regulations can and will pass, unless the vaping community gets up and hits the relevant persons with so much information and testimonials that they can't ignore it. We have to convince them that vaping is not smoking, that e-juice is not tobacco, and that they can't prevent people from getting or using ecigs. And even then, they may still vote for the money.
Important things to get in this are comments from the vendors that generate sales tax, speaking as to how they may have to shut down, which could potentially outweigh the monetary gains proposed by the regulations. Also important are the users relating how they will simply go out of the states (China, etc.) to purchase instead of suffering under a overregulation. The enforceability needs to be questioned, as well as the likelihood of people doing stawman buys and a black market effect of people willing to break the law and sell anyways for a small fee. Reinforce that there is no way to ban the shipment of all components and that the legal definition of an ecig currently refers to an assembled device or kit that as a whole is an 'ecig'. Parts and arguably liquids are not in and of themselves subject to this definition, much like a gun stock is not a gun until it has all the other parts assembled onto it.
Call into question the ability of the regulations to survive intact in the Supreme Court. The last thing the FDA wants is to have their proposed regulations gutted in the courts, but still on the books, as that sets a legal precedent. State why we are doing what we are doing. Quote studies (with references) and give (verified) numerical data, where possible. Reinforce that there has never been one confirmed death or serious illness associated with vaping in almost a decade. Reinforce that minor illnesses reported from e-juice, such as nicotine overdose, have all been due to carelessness or improper use of the products, much like curling irons causing burns. Contrast keeping kids safe by limiting ecigs with kids being endangered by blackmarketeers, gang members, and 'e-juice moonshiners' doing anything they have to to make a buck, no matter who gets hurt. and reinforce that this is a technology that the consumers have developed themselves because no one else was helping us with the tobacco issue. Big tobacco is only now buying in because they are feeling the noose on their necks.
And most of all, remind them that they are beholden to we the people, and that when they choose an action, they are also selecting the consequences of it. So they had better love those consequences before they act, or they will reap them later, to their dismay.
Please, please, I beg everyone to do their part, do it well, and do it responsibly. This is the only way we stand a chance, after all is said and done (not glory hogging, just being straight with you). The government may need to be reminded that while a boot to the throat is an effective way to ensure obedience, we have a hell of a lot more throats than they have boots, and a hell of a lot boots than they do on election days. And even if they push a horrid agenda on us, we are prepared to go to the next level and tear them apart in the courts.
