Lawmakers consider bill that would ban teen tanning
»Play Video
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon lawmakers are considering banning children younger than 18 from using tanning beds.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing Tuesday afternoon on HB 2896, which has already passed in the Oregon House.
Bailey Cooper is 16 years old and says she goes tanning every week. She doesn’t think the proposed ban is a good idea.
“I feel that wouldn’t really be a good idea because if kids can’t tan at a tanning salon they’ll just – there’s multiple people who have tanning beds at their house and they’ll come here where it’s not regulated,” Cooper said.
At salons like Tan Republic, anyone younger than 18 needs permission from a parent or guardian to tan.
“We have a certified skin specialist there and they get skin-typed,” said salon franchise owner Lance Donnelly. “Skin-typed is a state requirement by the state of Oregon.”
Donnelly believes the bill would make tanning more dangerous for teens.
“When a teen comes and they’re going in someone’s garage and somebody’s house and tanning for long periods of time in an uncontrolled environment, this bill is actually doing a disservice to Oregon.”
Supporters argue a ban is necessary to keep kids safe, especially in the state with the highest cancer rates in the country.
“We’ve seen an increased number of young women particularly getting skin cancer and the most deadly kind, which is melanoma, and we know that anybody under 18 can be particularly risk-taking,” said Dr. Brian Druker, director of the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU.
Druker said using tanning beds early in life can increase a child’s cancer risk by 75 percent. He also says about 40 percent of children ages 16-18 currently use tanning beds. He believes that number will drop significantly if the bill becomes law.
Ick, not her again. Â Those scars are GROSS!!! Â Put some pants on.
they should ban guidos too. or anybody with a jersey shore staten island accent
Why doesn't the state ban illegals who kill by driving drunk? Because that would be really difficult for them.
The bureaucrats choose the easy road. The US is increasingly more dangerous and they haven't got a clue what causes crime - because bureaucrats are lazy and do not have courage. They think taxpayers don't notice what battles they avoid.
Don't more teens die from driving cars or riding bicycles?Â
Oregon quit trying to take away my job as a parent..
This is real people, your skin doesn't forget. The incidence of Melanoma in young women under the age of 30 has risen 800% in 30 years. Skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer, more than ALL other CANCERS COMBINED. A tan is damage, you may not get it at 18 but the damaged skin layers (you can't see) continue to build damage. And when this disease hits, unless its caught VERY early, you will be in for dr.s' visit's surgery's and therapies that are harsh, intense and usually have less than 20% success rate. The World Health Organization classifies tanning beds as a carcinogen. Some countrys have banned tem  . Not everyone will get Melanoma from tanning beds, But the evidence is clear, MANY people young people are developing Melanoma and the common theme in most of them is a history of tanning beds. Don't think you'll always get a mole to warn you. This is as close to human torture as their is. Watch the youtube video Dear16yearoldme.
them .completely.NNotNoteveryevereveryeveryeverevereveryowMelanoma from a tanning bed
Lemme see if I understand this.......
The state believes minors have the mental capacity to decide  if  they want elective surgery  without parental consent (abortion) yet believe these very same teens lack the mental capacity to  make a decision  about  visiting a tanning salon.Â
How F'd up is that
More teens die from car crashes than anything. Ban teens from driving until 21
Great another new law, that's the last thing we need.
How about we leave this to the parents.
@From the OCÂ The only problem is real parents are sadly in short supply today. Too often it's just 'parent'.
God, don't you guys have more important things to do like legalize marijuana and gay marriage?Â
@lakeview I am against legalization of marijuana in Oregon since government usually screws things up.
More nanny state control.
Let's be clear, this girl used a tanning bed AT HOME in addition to the salon. Professional salons limit how long and how often a person tans based on their skin type. If someone uses a home unit, weather or not it is in addition to a salon, overexposure is a much higher risk and should NOT be blamed on a salon. Let's use common sense here people. If people would pay attention, moderation and sunburn prevention is the message from the tanning industry. The medical industry's message to avoid any and all UV exposure is more dangerous than you may think. Vitamin D deficiency is at epidemic rates because the medical industry's unbalanced message. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to over 100 diseases and health risks including many forms of cancer.Â
Never seen a girl look better having a tan. Â Be natural.
They ought to make a law against teenage pregnancy. That can screw up teens futures.
Just look at the middle aged women who thought it was SO important to tan...they look like their skin is made out of leather. Such a chic look. I wonder if those leather design tools would work on them. You know, the ones with the designs you used in grade school while making that leather wallet or whatever...just place it and >>>SMACK<<< they've got a new design in their hide! LOL!
Bet her left leg is getting tired by now.
Any excuse to get this pic up again huh.
I had a far more gnarly scar than that at 18 from melanoma, and I never used a tanning bed. Katie doesn't need to tan to be a hottie, avoid the sun.
We should ban kids from going outside, the sun can cause cancer too.