'The paradigm that tan skin is beautiful killed my daughter'
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SEATTLE -- Washington teens who want a bronzed body may soon have to get their glow the old fashioned ways.
Lawmakers held a public hearing Monday to discuss legislation that would ban minors from using tanning beds in Washington.
Many kids use tanning beds for dates, dances or to get rid of acne. While most assume the practice is harmless, one Tacoma couple tell a different story.
"This is a picture we felt we had to take, because we didn't think it was going to be that much longer at this point," Peter Rasmussen said of a family portrait.
Three months after the portrait was taken, Rasmussen's daughter, Shelley, was dead.
"The paradigm that tan skin is beautiful killed my daughter," Rasmussen said.
As a teen, Shelley tanned before school dances and vacations. The married mother of two was just 34-years old when she died of melanoma.
"(My wife) Wendy and I cry about it on a regular basis. That's why I really hope this is the last time I'm going to have to testify on the issue of tanning beds," Rasmussen said.
Attending Monday's hearing, Rasmussen urged lawmakers in Olympia to pass a bill banning children under 18-years old from using tanning beds. If the bill passes, salons that let kids use their beds could face fines of $2,500 a day.
Currently there aren't any age restrictions for tanning beds in Washington, but West Seattle Tanning Salon owners Beverly Fauvelle agrees minors should be kept out.
'They're outside, they don't need anymore," she said. "If they're getting ready for a prom and have parent's consent, they can come in and tan for a week for 5 minutes, okay. Otherwise, it's just common sense."
This is the fourth year that Rasmussen has testified against teen tanning bed usage, and he hopes it's the last.
"It tears us up each time we have to do this and I just as soon be done, but we're not going to give up if it doesn't pass this time we'll be back," he said.
Washington is one of 10 states looking at legislation this year that would ban minors from using tanning beds. Similar laws have already been passed in California, Quebec, France, Germany and Australia.
Lawmakers held a public hearing Monday to discuss legislation that would ban minors from using tanning beds in Washington.
Many kids use tanning beds for dates, dances or to get rid of acne. While most assume the practice is harmless, one Tacoma couple tell a different story.
"This is a picture we felt we had to take, because we didn't think it was going to be that much longer at this point," Peter Rasmussen said of a family portrait.
Three months after the portrait was taken, Rasmussen's daughter, Shelley, was dead.
"The paradigm that tan skin is beautiful killed my daughter," Rasmussen said.
As a teen, Shelley tanned before school dances and vacations. The married mother of two was just 34-years old when she died of melanoma.
"(My wife) Wendy and I cry about it on a regular basis. That's why I really hope this is the last time I'm going to have to testify on the issue of tanning beds," Rasmussen said.
Attending Monday's hearing, Rasmussen urged lawmakers in Olympia to pass a bill banning children under 18-years old from using tanning beds. If the bill passes, salons that let kids use their beds could face fines of $2,500 a day.
Currently there aren't any age restrictions for tanning beds in Washington, but West Seattle Tanning Salon owners Beverly Fauvelle agrees minors should be kept out.
'They're outside, they don't need anymore," she said. "If they're getting ready for a prom and have parent's consent, they can come in and tan for a week for 5 minutes, okay. Otherwise, it's just common sense."
This is the fourth year that Rasmussen has testified against teen tanning bed usage, and he hopes it's the last.
"It tears us up each time we have to do this and I just as soon be done, but we're not going to give up if it doesn't pass this time we'll be back," he said.
Washington is one of 10 states looking at legislation this year that would ban minors from using tanning beds. Similar laws have already been passed in California, Quebec, France, Germany and Australia.
I'm a melanoma survivor. They should be banned!!!!!
They should be outlawed completely!
If it doesn't go into law for ages 18+ Many of our kids R just going to do it when we've got our back turned. It's for their own good, and it should also hold any tanning place responsible for breaking the law if allowing a minor child to use the sunbed. All these things together, will encourage our youth to take better care of their health. W/out such precautions, they don't take the risks seriously enough. I know I didn't when I was tanning as a teen and also allowed my 3 younger kiddos 2-do the same. But, as the saying goes, Now that you know better, do better.....And I am doing just that.... Sorry to hear about your daughter. God Bless You & Your family....
Anyone can get skin cancer.
I have no problem with parental consent under 18. That then puts the oweness on the parents but to put a ban on it altogether, I disagree with, particularly here the NW where sun is minimal at best for 9 months out of the year. We all need a source of sunlight and vitamin D. Parents should know when to pull the plug for their teens and say enough is enough and be able to cancel their teens' membership when they're concerned, but the Government doesn't need to be involved.
Can't agree with you more Kayleen!
what has happened to comment sense with some of these parents god help us you have the children NOW take care of them gees
They should be banned....period. Tanning beds are NOT healthy.
This is beyond rediculous. Parents know their kids are tanning, if they don't the parents have a serious problem with not paying attention. I am so tired of laws on top of laws on top of laws. Just let it be and let the parents be responsible and accept responsibility for their lack of paying attention.
Yes tanning beds and tanning in the sun is dangerous , I choose not to do either, , but To make it a law / age limit is not the answer,, Educate your teens on the danger for one,,but if the teen, has own money and you say no, trust me they will go anyways, but maybe if they are better informed on what excessive tanning can do to them maybe , that will change,, but it is up to parents to educate and if you do not want them tanning then , well do something about it
I thought I would repost:
It is absolutely absurd that any lawmakers would consider this. Under the auspice of 'freedom of choice'  there is no legislation in Washington state  requiring any type of parental involvement (through notification or consent) for minors who seek abortions (even surgical abortions.) The bald hypocrisy of telling people under 18 years old that they cannot be trusted to make decisions about the dangers of tanning (which is RADIATION exposure through artificial sunlight), when you ardently stand for their 'right to chose' is insane.
i think its a great idea as a teen they dont think of the long term consequences of tanning and its even worse for em at a young age. If it was banned for teens none of em could do it everybody would be pale and there wouldnt be a desire to ruin your skin. im sure theyld be thankful in the longrun. yes prolonging it just like smoking at least they can make an educated decision to get cancer after they r of age. my daughter wont be tanning regardless.
Oh sure dont let the kids use a tanning bed when they are young wait untill the are adults get married have a few kids go tanning and let the melanoma get them then. This is how smart are goverment works. Dont let the young people tan but send our your boys to war if they dont die from the war they will from the sun they are in every day.
I think 18+ is a great idea or just getting rid of them completely is even better! My best friend had a large cancerous skin mass removed caused by a couple years of tanning. I will never get in a tanning bed again.
Note to all you moral crusaders out there - because you have suffered an unspeakable tragedy in your lives does NOT mean that you need to set about limiting the rights of others in order to make yourselves feel better.
No, but there should be a ban on parents who can't say "No" to their kids!
No beds AT ALL!! It's stupid! Why present the risk to anybody!
I'm a firm believer on personal responsibility. I have 2 kids. MY responsibiity as a parent is to teach my daughter the dangers of tanning. Granted, she's half Hawaiian and Half Indian, she most likely won't need to go tanning, but the fact remains that its my responsibility as a parent to protect my kids. I shouldn't have to go to lawmakers to change something that I very easily could and should have prevented in the first place. They aren't the ones raising my kids to be responsible. I am.
@refinneJ I agree your kids won't need to get tanning, however if you live in a all white neighborhood they may feel the peer pressure to do the tan.
I agree. Sometimes tanning can be a pure social thing. "Everyone else is doing it" so to speak. I do live in a primarily white neighborhood, but I'm already trying to teach my 5 and 8 year old not to do things just because everyone else is doing it. Teaching them good behavior. This just falls into the same category of not doing things just because everyone else is.Â
Why do we need the government to tell our children what they can or can't do? I thought that is what parents were for.
A few years ago when my 15 year old asked to go tanning before homecoming I said sure. But I said there is some research you need to do first. I made her research tanning in beds and in the sun and write me a 200 word report on it. I agreed that after that I would let her tan if she could give me 10 logical reasons too tan and 10 reasons not to tan. Which reminds me! I never got that report! Oh well, I never got asked to go tanning again either.
This is something that as a parent he is responsible for. It takes an exorbitant number of visits to procure skin cancer from tanning. In most cases years of tanning. Tanning has excellent health benefits when it is not abused. He is just asking someone else to step in because he sees other parents failing as he has.
Blame the parents, blame the government. The problem is that we are taught that a sun tan is a thing of beauty and a sign of good heslth.
I would also be concerned with all the creams that there are now days to give you that "bronze tan", just what is it that you are putting on yourself?     I bet years from now it will come out that those creams and spray tans arent that great for the health either.
I went tanning when I was younger than 18, and I never recall having to get my parents permission. I wasnt asked my age.  That was over 25 yrs ago, I went at least 4 days a week for 20 minutes at a time.  I was a beautiful dark tan, but its a wonder that Im not shriveled up like a raisin or have melanoma.     Now that Im a little older and wiser, I dont mind being pale, and I use at least 30 sunscreen when I am in the sun. I still will get a tan, it just takes longer.   I feel bad for this family, but once their daughter turned 18 there was really nothing they could do except express their concerns for what the tanning bed was doing to her skin.   I dont think I want government telling me or my kids if I can use a tanning bed.   Its up to me as a parent to lay down the law.  Â
Interesting how people think its ok for minors to have abortions without their parents' knowledge or consent, but they want to ban tanning. lol
I'd like to see a salon that replaces bulbs every 6 months to keep them at the strength to actually tan
the bulbs are so weak they are never going to burn anyone
Tanning salons already have a 18 or older rule or WITH parent concent! Maybe momma shouldnt of signed her daugter up! Take resonsiblity, stop trying to shut things down for everyone else because you had an issue.
I am a total supporter of this It is no different than getting a tattoo or piercing or buying cigarettes or alcohol. Lets face it when we were teens we did a lot of things that our parents knew nothing about. What is it going to hurt to require tanning places to require parental consent for a CHILD to tan? That is putting the responsibility back on the parent.
You cannot regulate common sense. No matter how hard you try.
How about the parents be parents and don't let their kids tan. Punishment for not following the parents rules. Pay attention to your child, its your job as a parent. Keep them safe. Talk to them and tell them why they can not do something don't just say NO.
absolutely would support this.
changing your skin color is illegal. This creates a problem for law enforcement when the race of suspects is confused or unknown.
Bad parenting.
It should not be up to the state, it's up to the parents to take care of their children. I tried tanning a few times and I didn't like the way my skin felt and smelled afterwards, so I haven't seen a tanning bed in years. Am I that bronzed tan? Of course not! I'm that lovely Western Washington pale, but my skin is very healthy. Personally I think a natural tan, or even being your natural, pale self is much more beautiful. I just wish more girls were happy with who they are without all the adornments.
Bottom line stop being sheep and do some reading on vitamin d deficiency and that is has had a huge rise in the American population in the past few years due to people under exposing themselves to the sun.Twenty minutes of a tanning bed to 20 minutes outside as all the studies do is just a joke. When did you ever go to the beach for 20 minutes. As a Owner if they are under 18 it takes parental consent and that doesnât mean a phone call that means they have to come in sign a waiver that they understand the risks to their child.If it UV is so bad how come more landscapers, roofers, siderâs and builders are not coming down with it in waves.Because being stupid burning your skin and a hereditary disposition is what causes it and no tanning salon wants to burn their customer its bad for businessâ¦
This sounds more like the daughter tanned excessively.. More than just before dances and vacations. Unless they vacationed in highly sunny places.. Because you can get skin cancer for being in the sun without proper protection.. But again let's blame something else for the problem! If the tanning UV actually caused it, it's nothing that isn't a known risk, and as a parent you should know better. Not try to force a law that would impact other lives. It's a horrible thing that happened. But this won't take away the guilt of bad parenting if you were against tanning in the first place.
I'm thinking that is the parent's responsibility to sit down the rules for their children. Why does the government have to pretend to raise our children.
@Patty Crouch Montgomery It is obvious that many adults are not fit to be parents
Maybe he should sue his parents for the gene pool she was born into also
Ban them all together
TO MANY KIDS OR GETING KILL PEOPLE WHAT DO YOU THINK?!! or Think of your won KID'S?
Yes
People shouldn't be tanning period. However, having a restriction on age isn't "ruining it for everyone." that's like saying an age limit on cigarettes ruins smoking for everyone.
just becau
Who tans anymore? I'm into pale!
Pale is the new tan. I agree, the sun puts shades on when I go out in shorts!
It should be a parents right to decide if they will let their child do this or not! However, if a minor does want to tan they have to have a parent sign a waiver and the parent has to be present and show ID so I'm not sure how this Dad can sue unless the tanning salon didn't do this? I find that hard to believe because I think tanning places have to do this for insurance purposes.