I understand that the purpose behind the law is prevent teenagers from developing skin cancer, but just because they cannot go to a salon does not mean they will be stopped from tanning ever again. Banning the use of tanning salons will only cause teens to lie out in the sun for longer amounts of time or invest in getting their own tanning bed. It has been proven that people who invest in their own tanning beds use them more frequently because they are so readily available. So, the ban that is supposed to be protecting teens from cancer is actually serving as a catalyst. This law will not only affect teens wanting to get an even tan, but local and small businesses. Banning teenagers under 18 years old will impact 25% of local businesses, putting more than 5,000 people out of jobs. Most of the customers of a tanning salon are teenagers, and taking away one of their main sources of income could have a detrimental effect on the community.
Something people do not know about tanning beds, is that they are actually useful in the case of people with Vitamin D deficiency, though there are a lot of people that do not go to tanning beds for this reason, there are still some good in tanning beds. The bill is called the “Youth Skin Cancer Prevention Act”, and it’s main purpose to stop teenagers from developing early onset skin cancer. However, it is not like the state is banning all tanning salons, so they are still allowing some people to develop skin cancer. It is not fair to only ban teenagers from tanning salons, because all people using tanning salons run the risk of getting skin cancer. Then again, there is a chance that an airplane may crash; does that mean teenagers should not be permitted to ride on another airplane until they turn the proper age of 18?
Laws like these are giving teenagers mixed signals. Teenagers are supposed to be responsible and make choices for themselves, yet they are also supposed to be told what to do and have the decisions made for them? Confusing. Babying teenagers until they turn 18 is not going to help them; they deserve the responsibility that comes with being an adolescent, and deserve the right to choose whether or not they are going to use a tanning bed.
Work Cited:
Harvey, Anna. "Bill Tries to Ban Teens from Tanning Salons." Carolina Coast Online. BLOX Content Management, 23 Feb. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
Leslie, Laura. "Teen Tanning Ban Passes Committee." WRAL.com. Capital Broadcasting Company, 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
Tozzi, John. "The Tanning Industry FightsTeen Bans." Bloomberg Buisnessweek. Bloomberg, 3 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
I agree with you that teens should be allowed to make their own decisions, but agree with the law as well. I think the law does some good for it does prevent lots of radiation contact at a young age, for when under 18 most peoples bodies are growing at a higher rate, and exposure of radiation to newly growing cells can end in cancer. Like I said I agree there are some dumb laws out there that limit teenagers freedom, but if it is just as easy to lay out in the sun and tan instead of use a tanning bed then people will still do it no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI agree that teenagers should experience the responsibility of making their own decisions, but I also think that they are not as capable as choosing what is best as compared with someone who is a little older. The only reason they ban the teenagers younger than 18 from using tanning beds is because they do not want the younger people developing skin cancer. They feel a law is necessary to enforce this because most teens are not so much concerned with the long-term goals as they are with getting what they want right when they want it. So tanning provides a short-term satisfaction that they will likely not say no to. But overall, I think this is a very controversial topic that deals with the freedoms provided to teenagers versus the law's goal of protecting these teens from their own poor judgement.
ReplyDeleteTeenagers should be given areas where they benefit by making their own decisions; however, it is important to know the side effects associated with their decisions. Teens should be more careful when associated with tan beds because they have a tendency not to think about the long term consequences.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the law, I think tanning beds are so unhealthy. At least once every couple of months I read about how teenagers have gotten skin cancer from the tanning beds. No one ever thinks it will happen to them and the next thing they know they have melanoma. I have several friends who use tanning beds and I just think they are making decisions that may seem good now but years from now when they have a family they'll be diagnosed with skin cancer and they may never get to see their kids grow up.
ReplyDeleteGood structure. Again, cite your details and ADD MORE for stronger evidence. For example, you say that it has been proven that people who own their own tanning beds use them more frequently. Where are your grounds?
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