by Tiffany Ludwig

Created on: January 26, 2008

The question "Should minors be allowed to use tanning beds?" brings one response to mind. Of course they should be allowed to use tanning beds. That is the most ridiculous question ever asked. That's like asking, "Should minors be allowed to go into the sunlight?" Minors have the permission to go to the beach, or the lake. People with minors are allowed to own pools, and even more importantly, their minor children are allowed to swim in them while the sun is directly overhead.

The state of Florida has mandated that anyone can tan, with their parent's permission. If the individual is between the ages of 14 and 17, a parent must sign that they give consent for their child to lay in the tanning bed. If the child is under the age of 14, the parent must sign that they give their consent for the child to tan, and they must also be present inside the room where the minor is tanning for the entire session. The reason for their presence being required is to ensure that they minor is abiding by the rules, including wearing the protective eye gear.

Tanning salons have rules that state that a form with the signature of a parent must always be on file for minors. If the salon is not following these rules, they can be fined, or even shut down. Because of this, most salons are very insistent upon this consent.

There are so many rules and regulations in this society. The government decides so much in a person's life. Some of the decisions need to be decided on by the government, but not every little thing that a person does. The government making the decision on whether or not a persons child is allowed to get their bodies bronzed is just too much. No one should be able to step in and make that decision for a parent. If the parent does not agree with letting their minor child use a tanning bed, that is a decision that they have the right to make, but no one else does. After all, tanning beds have not been proved to be anymore dangerous than the rays of the sun. There is no consent form for a minor to go to an outdoor barbecue in the summer, or a baseball game. Let parents make their own decisions concerning their own children.

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