Feds Argue For Graphic Images On Cigarette Packs

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Breitbart:

WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government fought an uphill battle Wednesday to convince a skeptical judge that tobacco companies should be required to put large graphic photos on cigarette packs to show that the habit kills smokers and their babies.

Cigarette makers told U.S. District Judge Richard Leon at a hearing that they can't be forced to spread the government's anti-smoking advocacy with "massive, shocking, gruesome warnings" on products they legally sell. Attorneys for the Obama administration countered that the photos of dead and diseased smokers it wants on all cigarette packs are "factually uncontroverted."

Leon has already ruled that the cigarette makers are likely to succeed in their lawsuit to stop the requirement, which was supposed to go into effect next year. Leon blocked the rule from taking effect until after the lawsuit is resolved.

Leon found in his earlier ruling that the nine graphic images approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June go beyond conveying the facts about the health risks of smoking or go beyond that into advocacy—a critical distinction in a case over free speech.

Leon also ruled the size of the labels suggests they are unconstitutional—the FDA requirement said the labels were to cover the entire top half of cigarette packs, front and back and include a number for a stop-smoking hotline. The labels were to constitute 20 percent of cigarette advertising, and marketers were to rotate use of the images.

The judge showed no sign that he was changing his position in favor of the government after the hour-long hearing Wednesday. "It sounds like they are headed to a place where you have to watch a 10-minute video before you can even buy a pack of cigarettes," he said.

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Scare tactics aren't selling the way they used to, it seems.

[pollyannaish]

Ok. So. You can show graphic pictures on cigarette packages, but under no circumstances are you allowed to show the actual effects of abortion.

 

One hurts you. The other hurts someone else. Interesting.

[Valin]

@pollyannaish

Excellent point!

 

 

 

This is called for, because no one knows smoking is bad for you.

[RandyM]

Under no circumstances can they show graphic images on liquor bottles or beer cans, either.

[Pepper]

It won't work. Pictures of 666 on posters didn't stop people from voting.