Pro-smoking activists threaten and harass health campaigners (in UK)

Academics and health campaigners are being subjected to threats of violence, harassment and personal abuse by pro-smoking activists as UK ministers consult over whether tobacco should be sold only in plain packets.

Leading advocates of tobacco control have been targeted in an apparent escalation of hate campaigns and intimidation by bloggers and groups who view moves to curb smoking as assaults on personal freedom.

One article, called "sniper the flappers," hosted by the campaign group Freedom2choose's website in March, suggested shooting staff of Action and Smoking and Health and Cancer Research UK, entrepreneur and anti-smoker Duncan Bannatyne and Shona Robison, a former health minister in the Scottish government. The blogpost gave the addresses of Ash offices in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Ash called the police.

"Snipers could soon snuff out prohibitionists ... It is time the humble smoker fought back against this intolerable persecution, for persecution is exactly what it is ... After 'popping' a few termites ASHites, CRUK'ers and a few 'flappers' they might start to take some notice and report the truth," it said.

full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jun/01/pro-smoking-activists-health-campaigners