New law forbids mailing cigarettes to the troops
The was a law that took effect June 29th that forbid mailing cigarettes in the US Postal System in order to prevent smuggling smokes through the mail It’s had the effect of preventing folks from sending tobacco products to troops in war zones, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution;
The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 quietly took effect June 29. It cut off those care packages by effectively requiring that tobacco be sent with one particular kind of U.S. Postal Service shipping that requires a signature for delivery but does not deliver to most overseas military addresses.
April Woods, the 26-year-old wife of a Fort Campbell soldier in Afghanistan, used to regularly send him packages of snacks, drink mixes, pictures and cartons of his favorite variety of Marlboros.
“I would hope that they would change it. It’s just ridiculous that they take so much away from our soldiers,” Woods said
There was talk about banning smoking in the military a year ago, and it looks like they found a way to enact it. Of course, there won’t be a shortage for the REMFs who get to go to the PX every day, but the troops in the field, you know, the guys who need the calming effect of a good smoke, who’ll suffer.
My mother and my wife sent me cigarettes and just getting the cartons of Old Golds had a satisfying effect. I sent my son La Gloria Cubanas while he was in Afghanistan and he smoked them on the roof of his hospital at night with his buddies after grueling days in the operating room.
Lynn Becker, a spokeswoman for the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the law did not intend to restrict mailing tobacco to soldiers.
“Sen. Kohl’s counsel is working with the legal office at USPS to determine whether there is an alternative to Express Mail that could be used to reach troops overseas,” Becker said. “He’s also working on a legislative fix to ensure that service members overseas can receive care packages that include tobacco products.”
Of course, he could have tried to fix the law before it became a problem, but that would be proactive, wouldn’t it?
COB6 and I ran out of cigarettes while we were deep inside Iraq, a two-day drive in a Bradley from the nearest PX – we were the meanest bunch of SOBs in Southwest Asia. Our company XO had to slip back to Saudi Arabia in a M113 to settle us down – a four-day drive there and back.
I pity the Taliban unit that decides to attack some soldiers who’ve run out of cigarettes. There won’t be any prisoners. Can anyone tell me how many soldiers in combat have died from smoking?
Thanks to Just A Grunt for the link.
Category: Military issues
Kohl is a f-ing drooling moonbat moron. The law of unintended consequences strikes again. If these assholes would think before they try to shove this crap down our throats……sorry, just wishful thinking on my part. They are leftist tools, after all.
When we were in Kuwait, we had a Cigar Afficianados Club. Officers from the Army, Navy and Coast Guard got together informally and burned a few while discussing various task group matters. Surprisingly, it was the most effective way of gearing down and solving real-world problems.
In fact, when flag officers and VIPs visited, they would always ask when the CAC was going to be held and whether they could stop by. We never knew how they found out about it, but they definitely enjoyed the visit.
The PX didn’t sell any cigars worth smoking. Our families and CONUS friends sent us the good stuff, and we would trade with each other. If we had to smoke Cherry Cheroots, Tijuana Slims or White Owls, we would never have met, and our problem solving would have been limited to conventional Power Point hell.
My husband only has two habits: his caffeine and his nicotine. (He could have a lot worse, right?)
I don’t remember how many times he’s had total strangers come up to him and insult him about his smoking. I’m not talking CONCERNED about his smoking; I’m talking RUDE about his smoking.
My husband is more likely to end up in PRISON from his habit, then in a hospital!
Well, maybe not from the US, but I know there is a way around it. Perhaps we get some of the German folks at Landstuhl to send it DHL to the sandbox or the ‘Stan. Or maybe Gary Sinise can take a shitload over for them.
Or there is simply the omission on the custom slip…Why stuff gets continually taken from the troops is beyond me.
Well… it says you can’t ship tobacco products to the troops. It doesn’t say anything about using them as packing materials to protect other items inside….. if you get my drift….. :;)
Well it looks like the Hadji shops with their two dollar (Iraqi) cigarettes are going to get a lot more business.
Hope Joe enjoys Miami smokes. Pretty lame.
Of course, he could have tried to fix the law before it became a problem, but that would be proactive, wouldn’t it? Again, someone had to pass a law so they would know what it said? Honestly, you can’t make this shit up.
Pintonag:
I quit smoking 18 years ago, (Medical, not moral reasons), and haven’t looked back. But, when I quit I promised myself that I wouldn’t become an advocate for others quitting. I used to have ex-smokers start that phony coughing shit around me and I wanted to choke them. I understand the prison over hospital mentality. To date, I have never suggested that anyone needed to quit. I have offered those who are in the effort of quitting that there is life after tobacco.
This non-mailing to the troops sucks, and I will work on finding a way around it. The “packing material” idea sounds feasable since one doesn’t have to describe the dunnage used in a package. Like some cheap cut glass trinket surrounded by about 6 cartons of tobacco dunnage.
And, add a little note, “Love you son/daughter, Mom.”
There is no way this can be enforced. 9 years of care packages, I can only remember 2-3 times I got feedback that the boxes had been searched and opened prior to delivery. It was believed it was the Soldiers rooting through the boxes to steal and not a customs search. Because back in the day DVD’s and smokes were the hottest items to send I always hid mine, and never listed them on the custom forms. I tape my boxes like FT Knox. There is NO WAY they can or will search every single APO/FPO box to look for smokes. If the Soldier is in certain locations that can accept insured mail, by law that box can’t be opened. As far as being dishonest on the custom form, well, considering we have a president that lies to us daily I don’t feel too guilty. Being in a war zone is far more dangerous than worrying about a smoke. Just another big brother act that is ridiculous. If a Joe wants a cigar, then Joe gets a cigar. Nicotine calms the nerves, keeps people awake (which saves lives) and creates a communal bond. I have met some of the coolest and best people stepping outside to have a smoke. And these days because we are the evil smokers we stick together.
Yeah, but medicinal marijuana will be okay… screw the little people and their tobacco, Democrats know better for ’em.
They aren’t allowed to buy from the locals anymore in Afghanistan due to an incident when cyanide was put in cigarettes (that Soldier is still at WRAMC recovering) and 2) last year when the locals started putting opium, etc in the cigs.
I know for a fact that 10 cans of Skoal fit PERFECTLY in an empty Pringles can.
This sounds like an unenforceable law that deserves to be roundly and soundly ignored.
WHo will be the first to test this “law” of the sheeple?
It’s not like the politicians care. Remember, the democraps have done everything to make sure the military overseas absentee ballots are not counted.
i have been sending care boxes to the troops for 8 years and counting. my son is serving in the war zone, I am a volunteer, who sends out goodies to over 80 soldiers every month. i and the other soldiers mama,s with my group broke the law today! we lied!! we did not disclose the tobacco we sent in the box,s we shipped! but if they go threw them, they will find it, and we are hoping they do! and when they come to arrest us, we are ready! we have our web cam,s and plan on posting our plight to youtube, this group of mom,s have made certain every soldier gets a box of love from mom,s who care, even if it means we lie, but we should not have too! but when a soldier asks us for something, we move heaven and earth to get it done! we feel it is the very least we can do for our troops, so if the mail police feel the need to arrest us, we feel the need to film them doing so! our soldiers don’t ask for much, some are on the 6th tour, some have fallen, some are disabled for life, we are the mothers of the Alaska troops, and if they want to come and stop us,,bring it on!, im willing to go to jail, to make shure the soldiers get what little they ask for ! if i have to go to jail to do it, every mom seid the same thing,,,,so what next?? soldier mom,s arrested for sending smokes to troops film at 11
#15:
Y’all weren’t lying; you were not disclosing. When reasoning is applied, that is morally acceptable. When government is in the spotlight, it is expected. Have at it ladies!!!!!
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