Final Commentary

In Mr. Riojas' blog, The Lonestar Government, he comments on pending legislation that would limit teen freedoms such as tanning in tanning salons and texting while driving. While agreeing with limiting cell phone usage while driving for any age, Riojas states that it is an infringement on parent's rights to pass legislation banning teens' use of tanning beds.



I agree that texting while driving is dangerous for anyone, no matter what age, and the lack of experience driving shared by most teens compounds the issue. However, I think that if this law passes, it's going to be extremely difficult to enforce. Teens know how to hide anything (including texting in class) and a determined texter is most likely going to fly under the radar of law enforcement. The only benefit I could see coming from this law is that cell phone records could be subpoenaed during litigation if there were an injury accident and charges could be pressed against the party that was texting at the time of the wreck.



While passing laws banning teens using tanning beds may seem like an infringement on parental rights, keep in mind that our society is rapidly evolving in the direction of socialized medicine. To put it bluntly, you and I will soon be paying for the skin cancer treatments of teens that tan today. Since children and teens have such a high rate of skin cell turnover, their chances of getting cancer from UV rays is much higher than it is for adults. Unless tanning bed usage is prescribed by a doctor for therapeutic purposes (treatments for various kinds of skin disorders), perhaps it's best for teens to get tan the old fashioned way...which is also slightly less likely to kill them.