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Utah Lawmaker: Teens Bullied Over Support For E-Cig Tax Bill

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah lawmaker says high school students supporting his proposal for an e-cigarette tax have been receiving threats.

KUTV-TV reports that a group of high school students across the state is pushing for the e-cigarette bill proposed by Rep. Paul Ray, a Clearfield Republican.

But Ray said Wednesday that some of the kids are being bullied by what he calls the "vapor community." He showed KUTV copies of comments and private messages attacking the students on social media.

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Ray pointed out one post he found particularly disturbing: A public comment calling on people to "beat the crap out (of)" one student.

The lawmaker said he's passed the threats and other comments he's collected on to Davis County Sheriff Todd Richardson.

Richardson says he's opening an investigation into the issue.