OCR Text |
Show ! In Our Opinion I Tobacco laws need specifics The Utah legislative tobacco skirmish has ended in a haze ; for the anti-smokers and a temporary victory for "puffers." ; The House Health Committee tabled a bill that would have re- quired retailers to obtain permits to sell tobacco. Sponsored by Rep. Kim Burningham, R-BountiM, the pro- posed law would have enhanced civil penalties against merchants mer-chants who sell tobacco products to minors. The penalties, in graduated phases, would by the fourth violation have pro-; pro-; hibited the retailer from selling tobacco for a year. In addition, it would have required large tobacco retailers to obtain a $100 permit to sell the stuff. Smaller, mom-and-pop stores would have to purchase a $50 permit. The bill, which also called for retailers to keep tobacco pro-l pro-l ducts behind the counter out of reach of youngsters, failed I because of concerns of enforcement measures. While admittedly tobacco is what Burningham terms "a r poison," users have the right under current laws to consume it. r Better to pass legislation against the substance that we can en- f force than put something on the books that requires years of I litigation each time enforcement issues come up. I We rather liked the solution proposed by Rep. Walt Bain, R- r Farrnington, who attempted to attach an amendment making the sale and possession of tobacco against the law. "r" "Let's not Mickey Mouse around with this product," Bain I says. His amendment would have made tobacco possession a I j Class A misdemeanor, and anyone caught selling tobacco I could have been prosecuted for a third-degree felony. Too bad, Bain's amendment died in committee. 1 I |