I smoked for 40 years, started at age 15. By age 55 I was smoking 2-3 packs per day. I was only able to quit tobacco by using electronic cigarettes. I tried to quit using a patch, gum, Chantix, cold turkey and numerous other methods. none were succesful, until I tried electronic cigarettes. I have not smoked or used a tobacco product for over 5 years now. I was able to sucessfully quit tobacco by using e-cigarettes. The improvement in my health was DRAMATIC. I honestly feel I would not be alive today if not for e-cigarettes. I believe electronic cigarettes saved my life and greatly improved the quality of my remaining years. I have been disabled since 2005, I have had heart surgery, aortic valve replacement, both knees totally replaced, I have Type 2 diabetes, I have Barretts Esophagus, which can become a cancerous condition, and recently had prostate surgery. Smoking tobacco aggravated ALL of these conditions. I am much healthier since quitting tobacco and all my medical conditions have improved since I started using electronic cigarettes. I ask that my government does not ban the sale of e-cigarettes. If you do, you are effectively KILLING many potential ex-smokers before they have the chance to make their choice. Banning e-cigarettes is NOT in the best interest of individuals or this country, in my opinion. WHY would you want to ban a life-saving device ? I also urge all government agencies to remove any text from their web sites that is inaccurate and/or misleading. For example, many people believe that e-cigarettes may cause cancer or poison the user because the FDA ??forgot? to mention that the amount of carcinogens detected in e-liquids are no higher than in pharmaceutical nicotine products such as the patch and gum, and that the only toxin detected was in an amount that has never been shown to endanger health. Elected officials are supposed to be the voice of the people. The people DO NOT want e-cigarettes banned. I agree that electronic cigarettes should be FAIRLY regulated, not banned. Ex-smokers who have successfully quit using electronic cigarettes (such as myself) consider them a life-saver, as I certainly do. I am now 60 years old and in much better health than I was at age 55, due to quitting tobacco with the help of electronic cigarettes. I do vote. I will support those politicians who support and defend electronic cigarettes. I hope my governement officials will support this life saving alternative to tobacco. Please don’t be swayed by lobbyists and big tobacco money going to you or your district. I am politically concerned and active in the process. I hope my Florida legislators read this and take note of my vote, in the best interest of our country. respectfully submitted, Bob Bernhardt Palmetto, Florida bbb on ecf