Hello, My name is Robert Williams. I started smoking cigarettes at the age of twelve and gradually worked my way up to 2 packs a day for 25 years before finding electronic cigarettes. The first electronic cigarette I tried in 2008 was small, the same size as a king size cigarette and barely lasted 30 minutes before needing to be recharged. The battery also gradually lost power giving a progressively less satisfying amount of vapor before finally dying. I had to keep 2 batteries constantly charged to keep up with my habit but I persevered and managed to quit for 3 months. I attribute most of that success to electronic cigarettes tasting better than traditional tobacco cigarettes. Have you ever put tobacco in your mouth? Its foul, but I continued to smoke because I needed the nicotine. Flavors like pina colada, coffee, cinnamon, and peach showed me there were much better and tastier alternatives out there. I also stayed away from tobacco and menthol flavors because I feared the temptation to go back to smoking, especially the first couple of months, would be too great given the similarities in taste. Ultimately is was technology, or lack thereof, that contributed to my relapse.The equipment being offered in 2008 simply did not provide as satisfying an experience as smoking even though I knew it was slowly killing me. 10 months ago I revisited the vaping community and was heartened by the advances ( most of them innovated right here in America) that I saw. I bought a personal vaporizer that has features like a rechargeable battery that lasts 10-12 hours and a microchip that controls voltage, allows you to check the battery and resistance of the atomizer (the part that vaporizes or heats the e-juice) turns the unit on and off and that features short circuit protection and other safety features. I also bought a tank that I fill in the morning before work or school with 6ml of liquid that lasts me an entire day. I started vaping 36mg flavored nicotine and have gradually decreased that amount in 2-3 month increments to just 6 milligrams. In three more months I will be vaping 0mg nicotine exclusively and will finally be free from an addiction that killed my grandfather, two of my uncles and will also likely kill my father. Even knowing that, 10 years ago you couldn’t have pried my cigarette out from between my fingers.It pervaded and affected every aspect of my life negatively.I wouldn’t work a job that didn’t allow me to smoke or even date a non-smoker. Today, after just 10 short months, I can hold my breath for a minute and 20 seconds, can walk up several flights of stairs without getting winded, no longer smell bad, my hair,eyes, teeth and skin all feel and look healthier and I feel 10 years younger. I recently participated in Tough Mudder, an extreme obstacle course and 12 mile run inspired by Army ranger schools. This would have been impossible even 2 years ago. Before electronic cigarettes, many of us (myself included) have tried to quit using FDA approved methods to no avail. The dismal success rates on those methods should speak for themselves but just in case they dont, every single one was a failure and not one afforded me even the moderate success of my first attempt at using electronic cigarettes.3 days is the longest I managed to quit using the patch and nicorette gum. I urge you to please reconsider any legislation that attempts to regulate or ban electronic cigarettes or e-liquids. Over-regulation and bans would consign hundreds of thousands of vapers to a slow and painful death as they are left without any viable alternative to smoking. Sincerely, Robert Williams