Patrick Reynolds

I’m shocked that Patrick Reynolds (Opinion, June 5) could stain his bands with money he received from the sale of his R.J. Reynolds stock. Doesn’t he know that 500,000 of us smokers die each year of smoking-related illnesses after we were duped by his father and grandfather. Or did I miss something in the article that said he donated something other than his mouth to causes to help eliminate young people from starting smoking.

Reynolds would tax cigarettes to cover the $22-billion smoking-related medical costs each year. What the hell; let’s tax anything that causes anything.

RICHARD P. CORPIS

La Habra Heights

* The FDA is appealing to Congress to regulate tobacco as an addictive drug. I fully support that effort because as an addicted smoker, I’m looking forward to getting SSI funds and the California financial supplement now given to alcohol and cocaine addicts. I mean, what’s fair is fair!

JAY KARELIUS

Granada Hills