Dear editor,

In my professional life as a former senior special agent with the ATF and now as an educator teaching in secondary and higher education throughout Illinois, I have a unique view into both the criminal underworld and the communities it harms. I strongly support HB2634 because I believe it is critical to protect our state from the dangerous networks infiltrating our schools and neighborhoods through the illicit vape trade.

From an enforcement perspective, illicit vape sales and associated crimes aren’t isolated violations. They are part of complex trafficking systems that rely on cross-border deception, shell distributors, and digital marketing aimed squarely at minors. I’ve seen these products come through ports mislabeled as electronics, sold in stores without any oversight, and end up in the hands of teenagers who don’t understand the risks.

In the classroom, I hear students talk about these products as if they were harmless or even legal. That confusion is by design. Illicit manufacturers are flooding our markets with brightly packaged, fruit-flavored vapes that look like candy, promising anonymity and easy access. Many students are vaping daily without realizing the products are adulterated or contain unapproved chemicals.

HB2634 brings essential clarity to a chaotic market. It empowers the state to demand accountability, protect honest retailers, and cut off the financial oxygen that fuels criminal organizations. As an agent, I see it as an overdue enforcement tool. As a teacher, I see it as a line of defense for kids who are being manipulated and harmed.

I urge the state Legislature to vote yes on HB2634 and give Illinois the framework it needs to stand up to the criminal exploitation of our youth.

John Rotunno is an adjunct professor at Waubonsee Community College and a retired senior special agent with the ATF.