SC Senators Spark Debate on Banning Cigarette Lighters
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SC Senators Spark Debate on Banning Cigarette...
Some South Carolina lawmakers are sparking debate with a new bill that would ban
Some South Carolina lawmakers are sparking debate with a new bill that would ban “toy-like” novelty lighters. They claim the lighters are dangerous because they encourage children to play with fire. News Channel Six’s Joy Howe is hot on the trail. Also, let us know in our web poll if you think the novelty lighters should be banned.
North Augusta, SC—It looks like a mini-flashlight…but flip it over, and a flame comes out.
Vickie Smith, Cheap Cigarettes: “Huge seller…huge. We get a case in and 3-4 days later, they’re gone.“
This one looks like a cookie…..ice cream…this one has dolphins that light up.
At Cheap Cigarettes, lighters like these fly off the shelf.
Smith: “I mean, we have regular lighters, but nobody wants those. They’re looking for the novelty, special, conversational piece.“
They have certainly sparked conversation in the Senate. A new bill introduced would ban “toy-like” lighters from being sold in South Carolina.
The state Fire Marshall is for the ban. Nationwide, nearly half of fires are started by children playing with lighters. This Aiken home was ruined, officers say, for that very problem.
Senator Shane Massey is in Columbia debating the bill. He feels banning them completely would be too harsh. He just wants to make it illegal to sell them to minors.
Sen. Shane Massey, (R) District 25: “I’m not the type of guy that wants to say you can’t purchase them. If an adult wants to purchase a lighter, I’m fine with it. But they don’t need to be giving them to kids. That’s when fires get started and people potentially get killed.“
Public Safety Officers say they spend time and money teaching kids to stay away from fire:
Officer Niles Emeneker, North Augusta Department of Public Safety: “The problem we are seeing is they have lighters that look like toys. A cigarette lighter or any kind of lighter is used for one thing, to light something, there’s no reason to me why one should look like a toy.“
Vickie Smith asks if next, lawmakers will want to ban matches.
Smith: “I think it should be monitored parent-level period. We’re responsible for our children. You should be responsible for what she or he gets into.“
She wants lawmakers…to stay out of her business.
Five other states have already banned these lighters. South Carolina is one of 13 states debating the issues right now.
Let us know in our web poll below, if you think novelty cigarette lighters should be banned:
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