Tanning Bed Debate

The South Dakota Senate was recently trying to pass a bill that would set restrictions for minors using indoor tanning beds. Senate Bill 117 was first read in the Senate on January 25. It was then scheduled for a hearing with Health and Human Resources, where it failed 2-5. It was deferred to the 41st legislative day. Which is a relatively nice way of not saying no, but just putting the bill to rest all together.

I have mixed feelings about the bill myself because I use indoor tanning beds once and awhile. I have never really been too worried about the dangers of skin cancer, but I have thought about reducing the time I spend tanning. I think that restricting minors, however, won't make a great deal of difference. What says that a seventeen year old has a greater risk of getting skin cancer than a twenty-one year old?

For more information about the tanning bill and others go to this website.