“Dont tread on me.” These words appeared on a flag in 1775 and were used as a rallying cry during the American Revolution and became a symbol of liberty, individualism, and defiance against authorities.

Apparently, the liberal elitists in Franklin County are defying these words and treading on 21-year-old rights to buy tobacco products.

The elites consider themselves to be the authority. Their magnanimity is fake. They seek control and are only pursuing this overreach for the praise they get at the local wine and cheese parties. Why don’t I get invited to them?

Never mind this idiotic state banned selling flavored tobacco products. Never mind if you are 21 you can buy flavored cannabis products. Never mind at age 21 you have the right to buy marijuana, alcohol, guns or ammunition, join the police, EMT or fire department. Never mind at the legal adult age of 18, you can join up for military service, where you may face the reality of war and killing the enemy. But you can not buy tobacco in Conway.

Never mind you can graduate high school with a grade of D-. You still can not buy tobacco. The elitists raise the bar for your personal freedoms. But lower the standards for graduation.

In some communities in the valley, liberals are pushing to lower the voting age to 16. Voting is one of the highest and trustworthy rights granted to a citizen. But you will not be able to buy tobacco in Conway.
These are the same elitists who fight for following the law when deporting someone but it is OK to enter our country illegally and defy existing immigration laws voted on by Congress.

Jim Bates

Gill