After solving the economic crisis, immigration issue, and all crimes and poverty, the
Texas legislation is now considering a bill to make it harder for Texas teens to use tanning beds . Supporters of the bill have compared its importance to the law which makes it illegal for teens to buy cigarettes.
Naturally, this bill is getting a strong reaction from both sides--the ones trying to enforce the law and the ones against it, the teens and not surprisingly, the tanning salon owners.
House Bill 1310 seeks to restrict teens younger than 18 from using tanning equipment in Texas without written consent from a doctor. The bill was introduced by Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, after he became concerned about skin cancer among minors,
according to the Lufkin Daily News. Current Texas law states children under 13 need to have a doctor's permission prior to tanning and anyone age 15 or younger must have a parent present in the salon while the child is tanning.
Evidently Rep. Solomons has been listening to doctors at M.D. Anderson, who claim that keeping kids away from tanning beds is a potentially life-saving idea much like keeping them from purchasing cigarettes.
"I can't imagine a good reason a teenager needs to be in a tanning bed. The truth is there isn't a good benefit and there is lots of potential harm, for teenagers using tanning beds," said Dr. Hughes.
In addition to Texas, Florida, Hawaii and 16 other states are considering laws similar to HB 1310. Proposals would ban teens from tanning salons or require them to get notes from their parents or doctors.
But personal rights advocates and parents are concerned about the government telling them how to raise their children. One Florida Republican said parents should have the discretion--not states.
"I gotta tell you, you cannot regulate everything in this world," said Florida senator Mike Bennett (R), who voted against the bill in Florida. "I suppose we could say the same thing and outlaw tanning on the beach."
Persuading teens to stop tanning could be a hard sell as many are concerned about physical appearances at that age. Also independence comes into question and a law like this would take away more freedoms – something teens value as they assert themselves in the world.
If a bill like this does pass, where would it end? Tobacco and alcohol are certainly understandable as both have conclusively proven to be a major hazard on human health, but the jury is still out on tanning beds. Despite some doctors' claims, there are others who say there is no major proof that tanning beds are dangerous. Furthermore, some experts are beginning to show the connection between vitamin D deficiencies and all sorts of health conditions (like
this,
this, and
this)
There are other, more dangerous things teens do, like skateboarding, participating in contact sports like football, wrestling, gymnastics and lacrosse, hunting, working on farms or factories and driving.
It's important that Texas politicians know all the facts and consider everything before voting on such a bill.
To learn more about legislation in your state, contact your local government or visit the
Indoor Tanning Association website.
