Okay.. so many of you know (and if not.. I just posted a couple articles and will post more as they come out)... Suffolk County voted to ban the ise of e-cigarettes in nonsmoking areas. Although this is better than the total ban they originally proposed, we did not apparently make enough impact to get them to read all the info we provided for them... so NOW we need to make an impact!!!
from www.VapersClub.com
On Tuesday August 18th, 2009 Suffolk County passed a law to ban e-cigarette/ personal vaporizer use in areas where smoking is not allowed. The law will need to be approved and signed by Steve Levy, the County Executive. This legislation endangers the health of many non smoking Suffolk County Residents. Our official statement on this is below.
"The Long Island Vapers Club has provided information to the Suffolk County Legislature which most refused to read. This information shows that there is no evidence that these devices cause any harm to the vaper or the people around the vaper. Despite this, Suffolk County took it upon themselves to pass a law which discriminates against vapers based upon public fear of the appearance of the device, because they look visually similar to tobacco cigarettes. This law discriminates against our organization and it's members based upon the fact that we "appear" to be smoking when most of us have been non-smokers for many months. This law forces vapers to stand outside with smokers to use a device that has not been proven to be harmful, based solely on appearance and public fear. A class action lawsuit by Suffolk County Vapers is to be expected in the near future. "
You may write to Steve Levy to let him know you are against this form of discrimination at the following email address...
county.executive@suffolkcountyny.gov
Kristin wrote a letter you can use if you'd like.. it is below...
Below is a letter Kristin from ECf put together for us to send to Steve Levy before he signs the ban and makes it a law!!! PLEASE send emails asap!!! Subject can be "personal vaporizers" or "nicotine vaporizers".
His email address is...
county.executive@suffolkcountyny.gov
Dear Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy,
My name is _____________________.
I am writing you today, to bring to your attention the ramifications of a ban on public use of personal vaporizers (electronic cigarettes) in Suffolk County, NY, recent FDA actions to ban imports of the devices and the impact it would have on all of your constituents in Suffolk County on Long Island.
On the surface, it seems a reasonable course of action, but it ignores the larger picture. By limiting the accessability of personal vaporizers, it pushes every ex-smoker back towards cigarettes - a proven killer.
It is very important that you understand that every personal vaporizer user is one less person creating second-hand smoke in open public spaces. One less person leaving their loved ones to go outside and smoke. One less person exposed to the hundreds of toxic ingredients, as with cigarette smoking or second hand smoke in the smoking areas. One less person contributing to the health and insurance crisis in the U.S. today.
By moving too quickly, to ban these life-saving devices, legislators push every personal vaporizer user that has successfully moved away from tobacco smoking back into the poisonous cloud. These devices may not have proven medical benefits, but anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that they allow a bearable transition from tobacco smoking - to the point where doctors have recommended them as alternatives to smoking. Even in the event of continued personal vaporizer use, personal vaporizers obviously don't contain nearly the number of harmful substances that tobacco cigarettes do. And while the health benefits are more obvious, the other life-saving changes are not. Personal vaporizers give us our life back. No more huddling out in the cold. No more disappointing our friends and family or exposing them to harmful smoke. No more wasted time running out for a smoke break. Reduced cost allows for more disposable income. No more embarrassing smell or discolored teeth and nails.
The device puts off very little vapor and odor, unlike tobacco cigarettes. You probably wouldn't be able to smell it over all of the other odors in the room - such as colognes and perfumes, foods and body odors. To ban them because they bother others in the room is simply an assumption and not fact. More people object to the fact that they look like smoking and not the actual vapors, which more often than not, they can't even smell.
To make non-smoking, personal vaporizer users sit outside with smokers is putting OUR health at risk, as well. And setting this example, gives the impression that these life-changing and life-saving devices are bad enough to be banned from the room and opens the door for other misconceptions and legislation against personal vaporizers altogether. What good could come from that, other than thousands of personal vaporizer users going back to tobacco smoking and causing addional second hand smoke, medical and insurance costs and sad families?
Please, Mr. Levy, don't believe this witch-hunting story that is being sold to the general public and media. Talk to doctors. Talk to us. Talk to our elated families, who also fear what this legislation will bring back upon us. Please don't follow others blindly, effectively condemning us to inhale second hand smoke and signing our death warrants.
Sincerely,
_____________________________
from www.VapersClub.com
On Tuesday August 18th, 2009 Suffolk County passed a law to ban e-cigarette/ personal vaporizer use in areas where smoking is not allowed. The law will need to be approved and signed by Steve Levy, the County Executive. This legislation endangers the health of many non smoking Suffolk County Residents. Our official statement on this is below.
"The Long Island Vapers Club has provided information to the Suffolk County Legislature which most refused to read. This information shows that there is no evidence that these devices cause any harm to the vaper or the people around the vaper. Despite this, Suffolk County took it upon themselves to pass a law which discriminates against vapers based upon public fear of the appearance of the device, because they look visually similar to tobacco cigarettes. This law discriminates against our organization and it's members based upon the fact that we "appear" to be smoking when most of us have been non-smokers for many months. This law forces vapers to stand outside with smokers to use a device that has not been proven to be harmful, based solely on appearance and public fear. A class action lawsuit by Suffolk County Vapers is to be expected in the near future. "
You may write to Steve Levy to let him know you are against this form of discrimination at the following email address...
county.executive@suffolkcountyny.gov
Kristin wrote a letter you can use if you'd like.. it is below...
Below is a letter Kristin from ECf put together for us to send to Steve Levy before he signs the ban and makes it a law!!! PLEASE send emails asap!!! Subject can be "personal vaporizers" or "nicotine vaporizers".
His email address is...
county.executive@suffolkcountyny.gov
Dear Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy,
My name is _____________________.
I am writing you today, to bring to your attention the ramifications of a ban on public use of personal vaporizers (electronic cigarettes) in Suffolk County, NY, recent FDA actions to ban imports of the devices and the impact it would have on all of your constituents in Suffolk County on Long Island.
On the surface, it seems a reasonable course of action, but it ignores the larger picture. By limiting the accessability of personal vaporizers, it pushes every ex-smoker back towards cigarettes - a proven killer.
It is very important that you understand that every personal vaporizer user is one less person creating second-hand smoke in open public spaces. One less person leaving their loved ones to go outside and smoke. One less person exposed to the hundreds of toxic ingredients, as with cigarette smoking or second hand smoke in the smoking areas. One less person contributing to the health and insurance crisis in the U.S. today.
By moving too quickly, to ban these life-saving devices, legislators push every personal vaporizer user that has successfully moved away from tobacco smoking back into the poisonous cloud. These devices may not have proven medical benefits, but anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that they allow a bearable transition from tobacco smoking - to the point where doctors have recommended them as alternatives to smoking. Even in the event of continued personal vaporizer use, personal vaporizers obviously don't contain nearly the number of harmful substances that tobacco cigarettes do. And while the health benefits are more obvious, the other life-saving changes are not. Personal vaporizers give us our life back. No more huddling out in the cold. No more disappointing our friends and family or exposing them to harmful smoke. No more wasted time running out for a smoke break. Reduced cost allows for more disposable income. No more embarrassing smell or discolored teeth and nails.
The device puts off very little vapor and odor, unlike tobacco cigarettes. You probably wouldn't be able to smell it over all of the other odors in the room - such as colognes and perfumes, foods and body odors. To ban them because they bother others in the room is simply an assumption and not fact. More people object to the fact that they look like smoking and not the actual vapors, which more often than not, they can't even smell.
To make non-smoking, personal vaporizer users sit outside with smokers is putting OUR health at risk, as well. And setting this example, gives the impression that these life-changing and life-saving devices are bad enough to be banned from the room and opens the door for other misconceptions and legislation against personal vaporizers altogether. What good could come from that, other than thousands of personal vaporizer users going back to tobacco smoking and causing addional second hand smoke, medical and insurance costs and sad families?
Please, Mr. Levy, don't believe this witch-hunting story that is being sold to the general public and media. Talk to doctors. Talk to us. Talk to our elated families, who also fear what this legislation will bring back upon us. Please don't follow others blindly, effectively condemning us to inhale second hand smoke and signing our death warrants.
Sincerely,
_____________________________
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