“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”

“Land of the Free”

“No Taxation Without Representation”

These are the principles on which America was founded.  Unfortunately, for cigar enthusiasts, the age-old pleasure of enjoying a cigar is under attack.  On an almost daily basis, your freedom to enjoy a cigar is being stripped away by overzealous, anti-smoking terrorists.  Their tactics are varied, be it onerous cigar taxes or restrictive smoking bans.   This anti-smoking movement will stop at nothing short of the complete prohibition of tobacco. 

America was founded on the principles that all men are created equal, be it a smoker or non-smoker, and that all men have the freedom and the right to the pursuit of happiness.  Unfortunately, cigar enthusiasts have let these rights be stripped away.  For the past twenty years, the anti-cigarette movement has slowly changed their tactics to abolish ALL forms of tobacco including cigars.  For the most part, their job has been easy since there has essentially been very little opposition to their anti-tobacco movement.  And why should there have been?   Most of us assumed that their attention was on cigarettes.

Unfortunately, we were wrong.

Forty-eight states in America have enacted cigar taxes.  Some states have gone as far as taxing cigars at a rate of 80%.  Currently, the entire cigar industry is threatened by the Federal Government’s State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) that threatens to increase the Federal cigar tax as much as 6,000% (no this is not a typo).  If it weren’t for President Bush’s veto of the bill proposed by the House and Senate last fall, you would have paid exorbitantly high prices for cigars you enjoy and nearly every cigar shop in America would have been forced out of business.   The proposed bill, which taxes cigars to fund SCHIP, is not dead yet.  After the upcoming 2008 November election, the House and Senate will once again attempt to increase the Federal tax on cigars to expand State Children’s Health Insurance Plan.

In addition to tax increase on cigars, anti-smoking terrorists have been making it impossible for cigar enthusiasts to enjoy their cigars.  In many states, you are not allowed to enjoy your cigars at a restaurant or bar.  Now, many cities are trying to ban you from lighting up your cigars even outdoors.  Who would have thought that the day would come and you cannot enjoy your cigars, walking down the beach or park.   

WE NEED YOU NOW!  There is a war against cigar enthusiasts everywhere and in order to combat the anti-smoking terrorists, we need your help.  Join the CIGAR RIGHTS OF AMERICA (CRA) and protect your rights.  Cigar Rights of America has been formed to stop anti-smoking terrorists from taxing cigar enthusiasts to finance their political agenda and fight smoking bans.  For years, cigar enthusiasts have been trampled on by local City Councils all the way to the State and Federal Governments.  The time is NOW for cigar enthusiasts to UNITE and have a powerful voice in our local, state and federal governments to protect our rights.

To learn more about the CRA go to http://www.cigarrights.org/