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NBCDFW.com / Omar Villafranca
A Texas state lawmaker wants to pass a bill that would make the legal age for using a commercial tanning bed 18.
You have to be 18 to vote, buy a pack of cigarettes or enlist in the military, and a Texas lawmaker wants to add using a tanning bed to the list.
State Rep. John Zerwas has proposed raising the legal age to go into a tanning bed to 18.
Currently, Texans who are younger than 18 but at least 16 and a half years old can tan with a parent's consent. Zerwas' bill would treat tanning like buying a pack a cigarettes -- you must be 18.
The Houston-area lawmaker says his bill would protect young people from future medical issues.
"The evidence is so clear and evident in terms of what the increased risk is for subsequent development of skin cancer, that the bill simply addresses that, under 18, you know, no," he said.
Zerwas said medical experts came to him with the idea for the bill and are now backing the proposed legislation.
"M.D. Anderson [Cancer Center] came to me, and the dermatological society came to me, so there is really a strong consensus around this, at least around the medical community," he said.
The legislation would only affect commercial tanning beds at tanning salons. Zerwas said some tanning salons might fight against the bill.
But not all of them.
Gino Vankuilenburg of Metro Tan in Carrollton told NBC 5 that many of his teen customers now prefer spray-tanning because it's cheaper and faster.
Leslie Lopez, co-owner of The Tan Bar in Dallas said she is seeing an increase in younger customers asking for spray tans.
"I think more kids are becoming more aware of the risks and the results of booths," said Lopez, whose business doesn't offer electric tanning. "Our business has grown since we started."
Lopez said she doesn't offer electric tanning beds to her customers, citing the danger of ultraviolet rays to the skin.
"I think it's long overdue, actually," she said. "We all know what happens to the skin when it goes into a tanning bed -- you could develop melanoma, and people could have prior histories. I just don't think younger [people] should be allowed to do it."
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Slow news day. Nice photo at top of story though...
This is only because the Party of No, Texas State Board of Education is attempting to eliminate "critical" and "higher-level thinking" in their curricula...which would be dangerous to the existing, 18th century Conservative order.
I am not making this up. Look it up.
Heck of a job, Texas Party of No.
This is what these useless moron lawmakers concern themselves about???? Fire those ass-holes.
Similiar age limits have been proposed in blue states such as New Jersey. How come the libtards aren't making a stink about that?
Actually you can join the miltary before 18, that really shouldn't have been too hard to research.
Actually if you ask me this sounds like another libtard law... They always seem to be concerned about what everyone else can or can't do and can or can't own. I say legalize the weed and gay marriage nationwide and maybe they will go back in their homes and shut the hell up and stay stoned and leave everyone else to their own vices..
Stop Funding Illegals
Actually if you ask me this sounds like another libtard law...
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Libtard? In Texas? Are you a card carrying member of the mouth breathing, knuckledragging brotherhood of the GOP/TP?
Yet another knee jerk bible thumper reaction....let me guess...you prayed about it...right?
Wow the brain dead flatlanders in this thread are pro cancer, why listen to the scientists, I'm sure they can find some obscure bible verse and say it says that anyone regardless of mental maturity should be able to use tanning beds.
Never Stop Asking Questions you are right on the money about the Texas State Board of Education is attempting to eliminate "critical" and "higher-level thinking" in their curricula...which would be dangerous to the existing, 18th century Conservative order.
Here they are in action, showing just how ignorant they are, they actually sound like the Islamists we are fighting.
People the Texas School Board in action using their own words.
http://video.pbs.org/video/2325563509
Hey @stop funding... This guy is a card carrying member of the Tea Party, why don't you fact check before you open your big mouth... Then again fact checking isn't the Republican way is it.
Don't believe the right wing media bias
“Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.” ― Ronald Reagan
JimSpence.....
Yep, "Ronald Reagan's house" had so many visitors, Mr. Obama's groupies decided to tear it down and building Mr. Obama's "Presidential Library" on the property.
Who in the World would want to go look at "Progressive" stuff.
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Nice lead in picture though.
LOL you libturds are sure easy to get stirred up... always with the same ludicrous shallow retorts too...
You said this...
Right after you said this...
Your word for today, is hypocrite.
A REPUBLICAN Texas State Representative trying to have Gub'mint tell people what they can do....
Wait, I thought REPUBLICANS were for less Gub'mint interference -- not more.
Agree as there are stupid parents who let a 16 year old tan 3 times a week. Or we can all count on Obamacare to pay for their skin cancer treatments.........
Why not, tanners pay a 10% Owebamacare tax......
Obama hater, huh? maybe you can get them to pipe in Rush frothing at the mouth about Obama suspending the Second AMendment by Executibve ORder while you tan - or maybe since it's Texas they should have "sweat beds."
Nope, voted for Obama but you don't have to agree with everything. Your no Reagan just like Trust but Verify.......
Sorry to disrupt the polict-fest here, but I'm responding to the stupid parent part: the law is meant to protect minors from stupid/indifferent parents, I guess. It was surprising to see a law addressing overriding a parent's decision.
Ron Hussein Reagan- No, just a white guy with psoriasis that lives in Alaska who needs tanning to keep it under control. But thanks for asking, douche
So skin cancer is better than psoriasis??
Okay, how do we explain Boehner? Does he have psoriasis? Is he from Orange County? Is his family from the House of Orange in England?
LMAO
AKRandy- everything in moderation. You don't get cancer as soon as you get into the tanning bed.
Hey, how about a law keeping kids indoors until they are 18 too? After all the Sun is a powerful source of UV radiation, just like tanning beds!
This is an idiotic proposal. Sure, tanning beds are dangerous. So is being out in the Sun for extended periods of time. The problem with tanning beds isn't that they are dangerous, it's that they are being presented as not-dangerous by the tanning bed industry. That's where the laws should be focused.
If they are going to legislate a minimum age, might as well make it 68.
How about a law that bands the Government from destroying our lives until we are 21
compromise --- bans?
UDunnoBro The problem with tanning beds isn't that they are dangerous, it's that they are being presented as not-dangerous by the tanning bed industry.
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Ummm, if they're not dangerous, and being presented as not dangerous, then what is the problem? On the other hand, the issue is if they are dangerous, it doesn't matter how they are being presented, that is still a problem, i.e., even if they are dangerous and advertised as such, but still made available to young people, e.g., teenagers who, as a group, are not known to use logical, intelligent processes to guide their actions, then there is a big problem, basically, issuing a warning to an idiot is no warning at all.
Now here is a side issue, but one I think affects all of us. If skin cancer is caused by these tanning beds, and people continue to use them, contract cancer, and have to get treatment without having health care insurance, the rest of us have to help pay the bill with higher insurance premiums. Those of you screaming for people to have the right to endanger themselves and end up with cancer are completely ignoring the economic effect on the rest of us, I do not want to pay for the cost of treating idiots.
Very correct Wil.
Hey "Compromise now", you can commit suicide right now. The government won't stop you. One less.
Yea, I'm sure kids aren't smart enough to figure a way to tan in texas by sunlight, "Under aged". (Little "T" for little minds in government.)
so, my taxes are going to politicians to oversee tanning age. Politicians need to earn my dollar.
Politicians earn something Juan? What a unique idea. Now the kids under 18 will just lay out by the pool for too long instead of a timed tan. The Nanny State strikes again. Soon we will be just like China and the number of kids allowed will regulated "for our own good". We have found the slippery slope and on the downward slide folks. Prepare to be guided through life by the government. Oh BTW, enjoy the Super Bowl today, football is on its way out because it is too dangerous.
Ok! if you're under 18, you're not allowed to get cancer, but, if you're over 18, go for it! WTF!!!!
if the tanning beds are that dangerous, outlaw them! effin morons!
People who tan (natural sunlight or tanning beds) risk getting skin cancer, regardless of age. If you are an adult you make a decision based on your calculated risk. Children, who society decided (based on a number of reasons) are not capable of making informed decision need to be protected from themselves and their parents who refuse to believe anything bad can happen to their kids. That's the difference. No different from having an age limit for smoking, drinking or driving.
Only part of the laws regarding age limit on smoking, drinking, and driving are due to societies view of a persons ability to make informed decisions. This is due to the general opinion that young adults are not mature enough to handle these responsiblities until they reach a certain age. Note that there are 3 different ages for each of the above.
Another major reason (smoking and drinking) is that young peoples bodies are more suseptable to the damage these activities can cause. Does this apply to tanning?
One more thing, the article said the current age is 16 1/2 years old to tan without parental consent? Never heard of any other law like that.
Other than a small exposure to create vitamin D, UV radiation has no useful purpose to humans
Rex, please do some research on the dangers of UV radiation before you post misleading information.
What did rex say that was misleading?
Great, another politician who wants to run your life 'cause you're not able to do it on your own. It's time to ban politicians. They are more dangerous than any combination of cars, trucks, cigarettes and guns ever could be....
What the story fails to mention is that Zerwas is a physician, and he's a Republican. Both germane to the story, methinks. But, also, isn't the GOP allegedly the party of less government intrusion in our lives?! Doesn't Texas have bigger issues to deal with?
Yeah, like cleaning up brush on the ranch.
this is whats @!$%#ed up with america they a law maker worried about tanning if people dont have the common sence when to not let thier children tan then they die its called thinning the populause and thats a good thing know all we have to do is figure how to get rid of thier parents
"whats"
"they a law maker"
"thier"
"sence"
"populause"
Well, SOMETHING's definitely thin here ...
Phil, aside from not being able to spell, use grammer, or construct a sentence, you are missing the point. Law makers are not worried about people getting a tan. They are concered with the risk of getting cancer and the medical, mental and emotional costs of getting skin cancer.
Phil2855600- A true and good Republickin I see, "to not let thier children tan then they die its called thinning the populause and thats a good thing". I could almost understand what you were trying to say you soulless/ heartless bas*ard. Problem being you are a pos jerk who has his head firmly embedded in his posterior end and very used to speaking out his arse! No use for people like you, none, not even fertilizer.
Phil:
you are a moron (clearly, it shows in your spelling and grammar). this is actually the most intelligent thing ive heard texas do in quite some time.
Dan:
LMFAO!!!
And to the rest of the idiots who are using this to bag on liberal/conservative people:
All of you are childish. The world needs to stop being so divided. Conservatives need to grow a brain and just accept the world as it is because its not changing the way you want it to and Liberals need to stop bashing every single conservative view and stop being green hippies. Theres a great practice that doesnt seem to be used too often here and its called balance. both blue and red views have negative and positives. We try and use balance so that we dont end up 400lbs so why not use the same concept in politics? please grow up people! all the arguing is as juvenile as the cliques bashing each other in high school.
Ashley! Don't know what you're talking about (you probably don't either). This is a medical issue and vanity stuff. Teens in Alaska want to look like they are from the Keys. So you use tanning beds. Neat thing about them after so many years your skin looks like a dried prune and you're on a way to skin cancer. You think I want to contribute financially to your treatments? Hell no!
If they raise the tanning age, won't it be harder to pay for ObamaCare?
It must be nice to have solved every other problem. That is the only justification for focusing on this trivial an issue.
sjacobs
No. They'll live longer (remember no skin cancer) and thus they'll be able to pay for wonderful Obamacare. Suck a lemon.
They should raise it to age 90 then we know no one will die from skin cancer caused by these infernal things and raise our insurance rates for everyone.
couple of rounds in the TANNING bed and you'll LOOK ALOT OLDER Than 18. What a STUPID idea. Got investments in tanning beds there? HUH? What a dumb idea.
Go after the Industry, NOT the Individual! (What's the real scoop with spraying that sh!t onto your skin, too, while you're at it!)
But HALF A POINT, at least, for stepping up with some acknowledgement. (even though it couldn't be done until "The Spray" replacement was in place)
Stock Market hit 14,000 yesterday. First time since 2007 (AND GAS PRICES IMMEDIATELY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SURGED). OH MY!
I guess they have nothing more important to think about, so they just sit around wasting money on stupidity. What's new???
Do you think skin cancer is trivial? You want to talk about wasting money? How about not doing something that would require you to spend money on treatments?
I never said skin cancer was trivial. And yes, I do want to talk about wasting money as these lawmakers do. I think they can be concentrating on more important things than tanning beds. Restricting the age limit will not reduce the risk of skin cancer. They will simply go in the sun to get a tan if you restrict the age limit on tanning beds. Just like a criminal will do anything to get what he wants.
Just record any person who uses or buys a tanning bed, and make it illegal for any health insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid) to treat them for any form of skin cancer, ever. Patient pays all costs - if they cannot pay, must use charity or go without medical care.
You guys crack me up... you don't want smokers to get health care without paying severe penalties for it. Now you want people who use tanning bads to pay severe penalties for health care if they ever develop skin cancer. You do see how this list could continue to grow, right? Okay, I don't want to pay for patients health care for treatment of liver disease if they ever had a drink. And, if someone's parents or brothers or sisters ever had heart disease, let's make them pay more too.... after all, they are a higher risk of developing heart disease. And if someone's mother ever had breast cancer, then I don't want to pay if the daughter develops breast cancer. I have never seen so many selfish people in my life!!! Why don't you live and let live??? It's a simple concept, really!
It's Texas. All they have to do is go outside and wear a swimming suit. Texas doesn't even get real winters with actual ice and snow. They have a lot longer of a tanning season then we do up north.
A good start. They are dangerous and should be controlled much the same as tobacco
Ed, I totally agree. I can't believe all the people who think skin cancer is trivial or those who think kids will go out in the sun to tan if the age limit is raised. If that's the case, kids would not be using tanning beds now.
This sounds well and good, but just like anything else, you have to try to think about unintended consequences. Ban or not, teens will continue to seek tans and they will seek out unmonitored home tanning units and unsafe habits in the natural sun. Research shows that the risk of using home tanning beds is far greater than using them in salons - presumedly because of exposure time and because salon workers are trained to not allow clients to overexpose. As much as doctors would like you to believe it, research has not shown a statistically significant correlation between tanning in salons and melanoma - only with home use and medical phototherapy. Melanoma is clearly a very sad thing, but when talking about legislation, emotion and anecdotal evidence must be put to the side. Unfortunately, a very small percentage of young people have always gotten melanoma, and continue to. But melanoma in young people is not on the rise according to National Cancer Institute data.
Dereck Parker, your statement "As much as doctors would like you to believe it, research has not shown a statistically significant correlation between tanning in salons and melanoma - only with home use and medical phototherapy." is not true. I found lots of information that says otherwise and here is one of them:
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/news/20090728/who-tanning-beds-cause-cancer
It's amazing how we all pick and choose what is true.
Tanning beds will be outlawed in the future. along with everything else that the government thinks is bad and will cost them money(since they are now responsible for our health). Along with candy and soda pop, make up, etc, etc. Without the healthcare involvement,maybe, just maybe they would leave us alone.
You know, MSN gripes about racist and sexist commercials and they show a foxy lady in the tanning bed....They could have shown a man or an overweight person. That's Sexist MSN! Those hipocrite bastar...
melanoma is indeed "a very sad thing" as it is the leading cancer of young women between the ages of 25 - 29 and and the second leading cancer in ages 15-29. what was once a cancer that hit the elderly, it is growing at an epidemic rate with a diagnosis made every 8 minutes. in fact it is one of the five fastest growing cancers. users of tanning beds are usually this very demographic and, hence, the raise in melanoma rates. melanoma is curable in the early stages, but it's 5 year prognosis in stage 3 or 4 is dismal as it is a difficult cancer to treat. even if caught early, the surgery to remove a melanoma is a disfiguring one leaving scars and often times requiring skin grafts. it's not just a cut it out and be done with it. my melanoma was the size of my pinky fingernail and i had skin and tissue removed to equal the size of a softball and i also was required to have several lymph nodes removed. it is not a pretty sight. fortunately, the disease had not spread. at one time, cigarettes were thought to be safe; we have since discovered this is not the case. i would think that any legislation to keep young people healthy is a positive move as it once was legal to buy cigarettes at any age.
Thank you for pointing out what so many people can't / won't admit in their insistence on "individual responsibility". Not everyone has enough knowledge to understand how easy it is to develop melanoma, or how to recognize it.
A couple of years ago an otherwise intelligent, responsible relative found a small mole on his leg. He thought it was just another minor defect until his wife, with more medical knowledge, thought it was more suspicious and spent a year trying to convince him to have it checked out. It _was— melanoma and that year of waiting allowed it to spread to the surrounding tissue. He's OK now but was out of work for months while being treated and is missing a sandwich-sized chunk of his leg.
Kay, you are spot on. Too bad people are dense to realize that UV rays are harmful in excess amounts, indoors or outdoors.
I work with a 24 year old new mom. During her maternity leave she was diagnosed with a melanoma right above her eyebrow. After two surgeries she has been declared "free" of cancer. Although she has a scar starting from inside her ear to the first natural wrinkle in her neck (to remove lymph nodes) and a triangle shaped scare including the center of her eyebrow(gone for good) above her eye and straight up into her scalp about three inches, she has a wonderful attitude. How devastating these scars could be to some yuong ladies. I've always heard that you do the real damage when you are young. If this is true the bill makes sense to me. Thank you for your post.
This is strange. Usually it's the democrats who want to restrict individual freedom. Maybe it is the MD in him overriding the R in him.
Don't lawmakers have more important things to do than ban tanning of minors?? What a waste of taxpayer money.
You won't think is so trivial if someone you love succumb to skin cancer because of UV exposure.
Let's try this approach: You teach the kid that tanning can be dangerous, they ignore what you say and do it anyway, they develop skin cancer, let them pay, monetarily and physically....lets call it PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting that this lawmaker wants to "protect" children from future medical problems. How about working as hard to protect them from being shot...
Yeah like quit being so politically correct and soft-hearted liberal views on punishment for criminals.
ya it only cost 40-50k per year to incarcerate them, no taxes though