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If passed, the bill would effectively end sales of cigarettes and tobacco products over the Internet. The nation’s private delivery services -- including United Parcel Service, Federal Express and others -- already have a voluntary ban on shipment of cigarettes and other tobacco products. “The mails should dump -- not deliver -- cigarettes,” Blumenthal said. “We should put Internet sellers of cigarettes out of business and eradicate smoke and mirrors in the mail. Congress must bar mail delivery of cigarettes to effectively crash Internet sites selling cigarettes, and fight teen smoking and tobacco tax evasion. “We cannot permit the United States Postal Service -- an arm of the government -- to deliver death and addiction to children. Laws enabling it should be ended. “Hundreds of websites now sell cigarettes, and studies show more and more teens turning to the Internet to evade minimum age laws. In one study, 29 of 30 teens successfully purchased cigarettes over the Internet with 77 percent receiving delivery. Another survey showed the percentage of ninth grade smokers purchasing cigarettes online jumping more than two and half times between 2001 and 2005 to over 5 percent.“Stopping mail delivery will stifle a major source of illicit cigarette sales to children -- and tax cheats. “Congress should compel the Postal Service to follow the strong stand taken by private delivery services that refuse shipment or delivery of tobacco products. Like private delivery services, the mail should be off limits to cigarette sales enabling underage smoking and tax evasion. Congress should follow the delivery services’ example, passing legislation forbidding cigarette shipments by mail.” Blumenthal is scheduled to testify at 3 p.m. today before the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and District of Columbia Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. © Copyright by NorwalkPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of NorwalkPlus.com, Norwalk Plus magazine, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. Related Articles: Attorney General’s statement on Supreme Court ruling limiting state regulation of Internet tobacco sales - Feb 21, 2008 - 12:03:35 PM Teen Smokestoppers Program reaches out to CT schools for the Great American smoke-out on November 15 - Nov 12, 2007 - 4:20:51 AM Online cigarette buyers beware - Jul 20, 2007 - 4:30:38 AM Kitt, Hensley and Huffman Cast in “All About Us,” a Musical, Opening Westport Country Playhouse’s 2007 Season - Feb 26, 2007 - 2:07:38 AM CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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