[Drango]

This is a good tax increase in that it invokes the law of supply and demand and will reduce children smoking. An increase in price will produce a decrease in demand. That's a good thing. (insert obligatory mocking "for the children" line here). I will vote for this tax increase as will many, many conservatives.

It's estimated 88% of smokers start as teens. If you don't care about teens that's fine but let me quote the great Newt from '97...

Civilization cannot survive with twelve-year-olds having babies, fifteen-year-olds shooting one another, seventeen-year-olds dying of AIDS, and eighteen-year-olds graduating with diplomas they cannot read.

[estrogen]

I can’t believe a conservative supports a law which limits freedom of choice. From experience, any increase will not dull demand.....black mkt. will win

[FLAMING DEATH]

This will kill innocent people.

Higher taxes will make smuggling profitable.

Local agencies will crack down on smuggling.

SWAT will raid the houses of “tobacco smugglers”.

As has been demonstrated time and again, they’ll eventually get the wrong house. Or, someone will “SWAT” someone else and tip off (lie to) the authorities, saying that there are contraband cigarettes present in someone’s dwelling.

If that person is lucky, only the dog will be shot before the SWAT team realizes they’re in the wrong place, or that they’ve been given bad information.

If they’re lucky.

We don’t need any more reasons for the government to be coming into homes at 3AM with guns blazing.