A bill has just been introduced to the Vermont state Senate that would make owning a cell phone illegal for anyone under the age of 21.
The new bill, S.212, would punish punish those under 21 owning a cell phone with a fine of up to $1,000, and a maximum sentence of one year locked up.
Similar to guns, cell phones are being blamed for many of the world’s problems, as opposed to the people using the cell phone.
“The Internet and social media, accessed primarily through cell phones, are used to radicalize and recruit terrorists, fascists, and other extremists,” the bill reads. “Cell phones have often been used by mass shooters of younger ages for research on previous shootings.”
The bill basically concluded that since people under 21 can’t smoke, or drink, they shouldn’t be able to own a cell phone either. Really sound logic…
Before you get all worked up, State Sen. John Rodgers, a Democrat, is a strong proponent of the 2nd amendment, and his intentions weren’t to actually ban cell phones. He just wanted to have a conversation, and this was the best way to draw attention to that conversation.
“I have no delusions that it’s going to pass. I wouldn’t probably vote for it myself,” he said.
Instead, he’s using the bill to highlight the fact that cell phones cause more deaths than guns, and that if the public really cares about kids, they’ll treat this with the same seriousness they treat the gun-control debate.
Michelle Fay, the executive director of Voices for Vermont’s Children, issued a statement saying “there are so many critical issues impacting the lives of working families in Vermont today, from increasing minimum wage to implementing equitable family and medical leave insurance programs to establishing an office of child advocate. We urge the Legislature to focus on the important work at hand instead of getting tied up in hollow diversions.”
Diversions? These are young people’s lives we are talking about! Shouldn’t this be taken seriously?
There’s “cyber-bullying,” and “revenge” videos, and a whole other slew of problems that come with owning a cell phone… At least, that’s what the media tells me on the evening news every time some poor child takes their life. The cell phone is usually always part of the problem. If Democrats want to be consistent, they shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss this bill. After all, isn’t that why they raised the age of owning a gun to 21?
Of course, the key word is “consistent”. That won’t happen.
Conservative Daily Update 