By Blad Tolstoy
Many of you are now aware of the article that appeared in 'Hemel Today' advocating the shooting of smokers by immature hack journalist Alan Dee on 24th July entitled: "Snipers could soon snuff out smoking." Similarly, the same article was printed in the 'Luton Herald and Post' dated 21st July 2011.
This is not humorous but very stupid and the respective editors should have prevented its transmission. For those who might consider my response extreme, then let me point out that this sick trend is a manifestation of a very dangerous undercurrent given carte blanche by the irresponsible actions of the toxic tobacco control lobby and two governments: the last one, New-Labour and this one, supposedly Conservative, who have given the green light for anything that intimidates or damages smokers to be okay.
This notion that shooting smokers is okay is not new. See for example, this article in Ham & High: 'Hampstead and Highgate Express':
“Smoking party goers shot by air gun sniper"
18 October 2007
SMOKERS at a party discovered their habit really was bad for their health when they stepped outside and were shot at by air rifle snipers. The victims were hosting a party in Kingsgate Road in Kilburn on October 6 but things turned sour just after midnight. Party host Adam Terry, 24, said: "We had the balcony doors open as several of us smoke. "My girlfriend went out on to the balcony for a cigarette, and came back in complaining that she had been hit - she'd felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. I went out to have a smoke, felt a very sharp pain in my head and when I put my hand up there to feel it, found that a small metal air rifle round had punctured the skin and I was bleeding." The housemates called police but before they arrived a third smoker went outside to locate the snipers and was shot in the back. Police arrived on the scene and checked the injuries. They told people not to go back out on the balcony for the rest of the night and to draw the curtains in case the windows were shot at. Mr Terry, who works as a civil servant, said: "We received a follow-up phone call the next day, and a visit from the forensics' team. The police confirmed that it would be difficult to find out who did it, but suggested a leafleting campaign on the road from where the shots were fired - Mazenod Avenue - warning about the dangers of shooting people in the head with air rifles."
And then there's this:
“Supposing ... Snipers were brought in to shoot smokers”
Charlie Brooker, The Guardian, Friday 17 February 2006
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/feb/17/smoking.charliebrooker
And then again there's this:
"UGANDAN KILLED FOR SMOKING IN PUBLIC"
http://connectafrica.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/ugandan-killed-for-smoking-in-public/
No, it does not say the man was shot, but he was killed because people thought it was okay to kill a smoker. Again, the blame essentially may be laid at the feet of toxic tobacco control and weak politicians who are not prepared to respect people’s freedom of choice and with regard to a legal product, and think it is perfectly respectable to scapegoat smokers. After all, now that it is much more difficult to discriminate against and act violently towards ethnic minorities, someone else has to be a convenient whipping boy. What a low morality!
Lastly, if readers would like to see a whole catalogue of deaths related to smoking bans, some involving the killing of smokers for smoking, then take a good look at this collection of evils carefully catalogued by Samantha at Smokers’ Club:
http://encyclopedia.smokersclub.com/4.html
No, I do not like the idea that press freedom should be curtailed, but at the same time, I cannot see that smokers and their non-smoking friends have any choice but to take to task, in the future, every newspaper that permits the kind of trash written by Alan Dee and his ilk. If that means legions of complaints to the Press Complaints Commission, MPs and Chicken Cameron, then so be it. The gloves are off!
