Yes, a smoker -- but this is strange. Received one of those packets of $'s off coupons in the mail today. Inside was this:

"To further ensure that only smokers 21 years of age or older participate in any Merit programs through the mail, we're asking you to send us a legible copy of a valid government-issued ID as proof of age, and to complete and sign the form below. Thanks in advance for your help. Once we receive this information, we'll send you a coupon for a free pack of any style of Merit cigarettes. See details provided.

The identification you provide must be issued by a government entity. The most common government-issued ID is a driver's license. Other government-issued ID's are valid as long as they clearly display your name, address, date of birth and signature.

If any of this information appears on the back of your driver's license or other ID, you will need to send us a copy of both front and back.

The information on your government-issued identification should match the pre-printed name and address on this form. Compare the name and address information carefully."

"If the information on your government-issued identification does not match the name and address pre-printed below due to nicknames, abbreviations or misspellings, please print your current full name and address in the corrections space provided. Please print your full first name as it appears on your government-issued identification."

"If the information on your government-issued identification does not match your current full name and/or address, please indicate the reason(s) in the exceptions box below:

1Change in marital status. 2Legal name change. 3Moved 4Use PO Box 5Dual residence 6Other"

Can someone please tell me what the heck is going on? This is all for 1 coupon for a pack of cigarettes?

We really gave up all our liberties and freedoms along the line, didn't we? They now have us by the ------

-- claurann (claurann@aol.com), December 02, 1999

Answers

Clauran, if you're female you have no balls!

-- bbb (bbb@bbb.com), December 02, 1999.

don't do it! do not send those details!

-- murphy (seanasea@clover.leaf), December 02, 1999.

Heh, lucky me. Mine offered the choice of a pack of smokes or a lighter. This is the second one I've received in the past month or so. Guess I'll take the smokes this time......NOT!

The offer is indeed strange.

-- NokternL (nokternl@anywhereusa.com), December 02, 1999.

Its about as strange as the Dr. at the hopital where my wife went to

have her spine checked ask her in the routine patient info sheet how

many wappons are there in the house and where/how do you store them.

-- this is indeed strange (strange@gov.spoof), December 02, 1999.

Strange: most firearm injuries are accidental and self-inflicted. They're just trying to find out whether they'll be seeing her again soon.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), December 02, 1999.

Colin, with all due respect, thou knowest not that about which thou speakest.... (IOW, please don't try to analyze gun issues in America. Unless you've lived here MANY years/all your life, you really have no clue.)

Not a flame, just a friendly suggestion....

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), December 02, 1999.

Colin,

To get the idea behind guns and private ownership of same here in America order the book, The Second Amendment Primer. Many references to English Common law and the fact the citizens were to be armed and the reason British Police were unarmed was the fact that they could depend on citizens to assist when arms were needed.

The NRA has been training ciizens, and law enforcement in the proper use of weapons for many years and their program has helped in regards to gun safety etc.

The second amendment..."A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

All able bodied men between the ages of 17-45 are considered to be the militia in the USA. The 2nd amendment states a right, not a government grant. It also talks about people bearing arms and thus would not allow crew served weapons to the individual, as has been argued.

The government of the United States has no authority to restrict our right to bear arms, and questions such as the above are an infringement.

The above question reminds me of the time, several months ago, I had to take my wife to the emergency ward. The first question the staff asked her was..."Does your husband abuse you?" This is not only rude but very intrussive. It is big government gone wacky. Perhaps if she staggerred into the emergency ward beat to hell and back the question would have some merit, but not the way it was handled. Too many busy bodies out there.

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), December 02, 1999.

MYOB is a simple answer to intrusive questions like this.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), December 02, 1999.

boy, these threads just blossom and grow, don't they! Claurann...Change brands! Raleigh offers coupons, 1 per pack, 20 per carton...send in 150,000 and they'll send you an Iron Lung...FREE!!!!

-- Jay Urban (Jayho99@aol.com), December 02, 1999.

Let's see, weapons in the house, weapons in the house, weapons in the house...

Hmmm....

OK, here goes. I store the knives in the kitchen drawer. I store the hammers in the toolbox.

I wonder why they didn't ask about firearms too, while they were sticking their noses where they don't belong?

If I ever got a line of **** like that from a meditrademan, I'd reciprocate. I'd tell *him* to tell *me* how many "weapons* he has in *his* house -- in writing.

When he tells me it's none of my ******* business, I'd smile, look him in the eye, and say, "well how about that!"

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 02, 1999.

Wow, we did lotsa intakes every night at the hospital, and there were never questions about weapons! Course that was a year ago, but still ...

We'd have all these inservices about how we had to ask if the person was suffering any type of abuse at home. Most of the nurses never asked that, because if the answer had been "yes" it meant more paperwork, phone calls, documentation, follow-ups -- and nobody had time!

Remember 1 lady who was obviously abused, horribly, in there off & on for a year, on our floor, who finally was "hidden" from her husband one week before she died -- one week of peace, while she was confused or in a coma -- she had a terrible year.

And yes, we brought up the abuse to the Manager -- who totally ignored us. The lady would not admit it because her husband did bring her food. She was diabetic, one leg amputated, cancer, etc.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), December 02, 1999.

Methinks Collin has higher IQ....

...and drier sense of humor.

Over thine head perhaps?

-- maid upname (noid@ihope.com), December 03, 1999.