Citing Martin Luther King, Thomas Jefferson and Gandhi, Some People Will Use E-Cigs In Central Park

[hrmjustin]

Anna Merlan

There comes a time when good men, men of conscience, can take no more. They have to rise up against tyranny, cast off the shackles of oppression, shake their fists in the face of moral injustice. They have to use e-cigarettes in public, while trying very, very hard to get a ticket for doing so.

As you may recall, one of Michael Bloomberg's last acts as mayor, an admittedly silly one, was to sign a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in public, adding them to the 2002 Smoke-Free Air Act that banned smoking in public places throughout the city. It took effect April 29, sparking outrage among the city's surprising passionate, exceedingly aggrieved e-cig-using public.

That's where Russ Wishtart comes in. He's whole-heartedly dedicated to "vaping," the verb e-cig users prefer, so much so that he hosts a podcast on the subject entitled Click, Bang!. And in March, he and other vaping activists joined with smokers rights group C.L.A.S.H.to sue the city to overturn the e-cig ban.

As the wheels of justice grind exceedingly slowly, they're also planning a little civil disobedience for this Saturday.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/05/e-cigarettes_vaping_ban_central_park_arsenal_russ_wishtart.php

[Prophet 451]

1. Stupid response to a stupid act

Bloomberg's ban was the result of misinformation and fear (and possibly Big Tobacco although I have nothing to back that and may just be my cynicism). The civil disobedience is just silly though.

And I'm a committed vaper. They've let me go from 50 a day to 0 in about six weeks.

[hrmjustin]

2. I am glad you were able to quit.

[Prophet 451]

3. Thank you

I've now got my mother (50-year smoker) to try quitting using e-cigs as well.

[hrmjustin]

4. My mother quit cold turkey after 50 years of smoking a few years ago.

I wish your mother success.