By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

WASHINGTON – The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act – groundbreaking legislation to help protect children and adults from our nation’s most deadly habit – is expected to be signed by President Obama after winning approval in the House and Senate this past week.

According to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the bipartisan legislation will, among other things, give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority and resources to:

• Restrict tobacco ads and promotions, especially to children.
• Stop illegal sales of tobacco to children.
• Require large, graphic health warnings that cover the top half of cigarette packs.
• Ban misleading claims such as “light” and “low-tar.”
• Strictly regulate all health claims about tobacco products to ensure they are scientifically proven.
• Require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products.
• Require changes in tobacco products, such as the removal or reduction of harmful ingredients or the reduction of nicotine levels.

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What seems to be a relatively benign marketing activity could have negative consequences over time
Christian Action League

What might be deemed as a relatively benign marketing activity for the beer industry in North Carolina could have overtime some very negative consequences. Nevertheless, on Monday evening, the North Carolina House passed overwhelmingly (91-23) on its third reading HB 1595 – Malt Beverage Special Permit, sponsored by Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg).

The bill would authorize the ABC Commission to issue two permits: a malt beverage tasting permit that would allow malt beverage tasting events at grocery stores and other food businesses, and a malt beverage special event permit that would authorize the permittee to give free samples and to sell its products at trade shows, conventions, shopping malls, various festivals and other similar events approved by the ABC Commission. Permits would not be granted where referendums had not been approved for the sale of malt beverages.

For most lawmakers the measure seems rather innocuous, but many fail to realize that beer accounts for 67% of the alcohol consumption in the United States. It is disproportionately consumed in hazardous amounts relative to wine and spirits.   Read the rest of this entry »

Have You Contacted Your Representative in the NC House?
By Tami Fitzgerald
Christian Action League

The Anti-Bullying bill-Senate Bill 526, School Violence Prevention Act-remains an urgent threat to our children and to the institution of marriage. If you have not already contacted your State House member and asked him or her to vote against Senate Bill 526, please do so immediately and continue to contacting your Representative until the bill is defeated.

As we reported last week, the bill has already passed the Senate and has been given a favorable report by the House Education Committee. The House Judiciary I Committee, where the bill must go next, did not take up the bill this week, but it can be scheduled at any time and with little notice.

The author and main advocate for passage of Senate Bill 526 is Equality North Carolina, the State’s largest and most vocal advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. Its constituents have been deluging legislators with calls, emails, and letters of support for the bill. We must counter the efforts of Equality North Carolina by politely and continually voicing to our House members our objections to this radical homosexual rights bill.

This bill is really not about protecting children as much as it is about advancing gay rights in North Carolina for the following reasons: Read the rest of this entry »

A teenager doing extraordinary work in the pro-life movement may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship
By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League

CHARLOTTE – A handful of students who believe that every life is precious and a faculty member who is willing to stand for the cause – that’s what it takes to start a high school Right to Life club, a group that not only can inform and engage classmates but also can reach the community with the pro-life message.

That’s what happened during the 2006-2007 school year at Olympic High in Charlotte when students Hai-y Le and Thao Nguyen were inspired by the testimony of their volunteer tennis coach who had undergone an abortion during college. Determined to teach others what they had learned from their role model, the girls were at first discouraged to find that some of their most admired teachers wanted no part of their organization.

“Many teachers told us it was too controversial; many students criticized us for choosing a pro-life stance while other problems plagued our society,” Le said.

Even the Christian club at Olympic deemed their issue too contentious for a public school setting.  Read the rest of this entry »