This week, New Jersey Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, R-Monmouth, took her anti-tanning crusade to the Fifth Avenue boardwalk. There, she held a conference to gather support for a bill she’s sponsored (A-2867) seeking to prevent the area’s young adults under the age of 18 from using the UV equipment at professional tanning salons. Angelini cited World Health Organization information to try to support her case.
Angelini didn’t stand alone; she surrounded herself with the American Cancer Society’s chief medical spokesman, as well as a plastic surgeon. The physicians had nothing positive to contribute in sharing their thoughts about teen tanning.
Area tanning salon owners – and even a city council candidate, David Schneck – approached things from a different angle; that of parental rights. New Jersey’s current legislation calls for parental consent for tanners ages 14 to 18, with a ban for those under 14. This leaves the teen tanning decision in the hands of parents, where these constituents feel is appropriate.
At the press conference, Schneck asked Angelini to confirm the statistics on the number of skin cancer cases that have been proven to result from indoor tanning. She did not respond. The Assemblywoman is up for re-election this November.
Angelini introduced her bill in June, where it’s remained in the Health and Senior Services Committee. There’s a similar bill (S-2119) with a sole sponsor in the Senate.
Source:
