Free Talk Live

Americans armed themselves to the teeth and paid through the nose to have a smoke, according to a U.S. government report released on Wednesday. The U.S. federal government collected $20.6 billion in taxes on alcohol, tobacco, firearms and ammunition in fiscal year 2009, up 41 percent from the previous fiscal year, according to the annual report of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. --- Remember, kids... "Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms" should be a convenience store, not a government agency.

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Food and Drug Administration is saying in letters to two tobacco companies that flavored, dissolvable tobacco products - that the agency compares with candy and says contain a lot of nicotine - could be particularly appealing to kids and young adults.

BRISTOL, TN -- Nearly a week after temporarily closing -- citing police harassment and the security of their employees as the reasons – a local smoke shop placed an ad in the Bristol Herald Courier, requesting input from those who were stopped by police near the store.

Delray Beach Florida has become the latest in the battle against personal choice and has banned hiring employees who use tobacco products, all supposedly to save money on health insurance.

In a graphic new ad campaign, the government is trying to shock smokers into quitting with the sometimes-gruesome stories of people damaged by tobacco products. The new effort confronts a hard truth: Despite increased tobacco taxes and bans in many public places, the adult smoking rate hasn't really budged since 2003. When argument, alienation, ostracism, and harassment don't work, the next step is to terrorize.

In many states, Gary Richards would not have been able to light up a cigarette before biting into his meat-lover's pizza, as he did at Satisfaction Restaurant & Bar this week. But in North Carolina, the nation’s leading tobacco producer, limits on indoor smoking have lagged behind those in much of the country.

Now, researchers are recommending that owners and landlords make their buildings smoke-free zones.

The good news is electronic cigarettes can not be banned as they have just received "legal" classification as a tobacco product.

Cross a state line and laws change. That's especially true between New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Laws relating to seat belts, guns, cellphones, motorcycle helmets, fireworks and knives are among those lawmakers want to warn people about. That's not to mention alcohol and tobacco prices and New Hampshire's tax-free shopping.

Six GOP lawmakers want the Department of Transportation to erect signs along every unmarked road leading from New Hampshire into Massachusetts, stating: "Warning: Massachusetts Border 500 Feet."