This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, says high school students who are helping him seek to tax e-cigarettes are being threatened online with violence.

He called a press conference Friday to say he reported the threats to the Davis County Sheriff and Kaysville Police, and officials said they are trying to identify the people who are posting them.

The students targeted have been working with Students Against Electronic Vaping. Ray said they have gathered 8,000 signatures supporting his efforts, and helped to convince 15 city councils so far to pass supportive resolutions.

Ray gave the news media photocopies of some of the threats, including one that said "Let's go beat the crap out of this kid." Ray said, "It's this kind of call for action that concerns us."

Other comments included, "This one makes me want to throat kick someone," "That kid needs to be punched in the mouth … or round housed in the face," "He's going to get his ass beat by somebody," and "Die. Please." Others called the students and Ray numerous derogatory names.

Ray in previous discussion of increasing vaping by young people called those in the industry "scumbags."

Ray's HB333 would impose a 86.5 percent tax on e-cigarettes, the same that is on other non-cigarette tobacco products. No hearing has yet been scheduled for it.

— Lee Davidson