Ban on Teen Tanning

NYS is looking to ban anyone under the age of 18 to use an indoor tanning bed saying that it increases the risk of melanoma cancer.

I have a few issues with this.
1. As the previous owner of a tanning salon and a smart tan certified certificate holder the truth about tanning has been overshadowed by the mass media. If you take the time to look at the negative studies on tanning they are funded by people who stand to make a profit by banning any type of sun tanning (mainly the makers of SPF products)
2. Tanning is our bodies natural defense to the sun. Our bodies were designed to tan. It is not the tan that injures the skin, it is the sun burn. By using an indoor tanning facility many people can help protect their skin and avoid serious beds by gradually building up their skin to produce a tan.
3.Government needs to stop telling Americans what they can and can not do. We need much less government in our lives and government needs to stop allowing lobbiest to make policy.
4.Everyone vacations someplace sunny and warm. Teenagers are not banned from the beach or their backyards. There is no ban on buying baby oil which many have used to get a quick burn.
4. People who tan, tend to feel better about themselves. Doctors recommend tanning to people who are depressed, have acne or psoriasis, and who are lacking Vitamin D (which on a side note - the lack of Vitamin D has been linked to increased illnesses.

These are the basics. Everyone has the right to make their own decision and decide for themselves if visiting a tanning salon or laying out in the sun is right for them but government has no place for it.

The truth I feel is that anything that gets abused causes harm but as long as there are no pre-existing conditions, such as skin cancer in family, tanning in moderation is not a health risk.