(Oregon) House supports Matthews’ bill banning sale/manufacture of novelty lighters

[The Straight Story]

House supports Matthews’ bill banning sale of novelty lighters

The Oregon House of Representatives on Wednesday, Feb. 3, unanimously passed legislation banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of toy-like novelty lighters.

Available at hardware stores, gas stations and convenience stores, such lighters are easily mistaken for toys, according to critics who say the lighters are dangerous, deceptive and cause unintentional fires and injuries to curious children.

“As a former police officer and current firefighter, I’m happy to see we’re taking an active role in protecting our children and families from burn injury, death and property loss,” said Rep. Greg Matthews, D-Gresham. “We cannot and should not wait any longer to get these dangerous products off the shelves.”

Matthews was the bill’s chief sponsor/carrier. The bill awaits a vote in the Senate.

Sandy City Councilors passed the state’s first city-wide ban on the lighters in October 2008. Nationally, Maine and Tennessee have already issued statewide bans while cities in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Washington have passed local ordinances banning lighters that look like toys. Oregon is one of 15 states considering the ban.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore,, co-sponsored legislation calling for a national ban on importing and selling lighters. Approximately 70 million such lighters are imported a year.

http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=123397224983608300

Thank god, I feel so much safer now.

[anonymous171]

1. Memo to dems: The 90s are over.

The nanny state is bad. The welfare state is superior.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. What's wrong with just banning sales to kids?

sheesh

[RC]

3. Or banning kids. That will stop the problem also.

[The Straight Story]

4. true, thinking outside the box there :)

We could lift the ban on so many things if we just banned kids :rofl:

[RC]

5. Mine are grown. I don't care.

Dumbing down the world to 6 year old level is not the answer.