Home»Politics»Vermont: Senator Wants To Ban Anyone Under The Age Of 21 From Using Or Possessing A Cellphone At Any Time

Vermont: Senator Wants To Ban Anyone Under The Age Of 21 From Using Or Possessing A Cellphone At Any Time

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No, really.  This is what our society is coming to:  No tobacco products till 21, no handguns and in some cases no rifles till 21, and now, no cellphones till you’re 21… at least that’s what “representatives know best” in Bernie Sanders’ state of Vermont.

While it’s unlikely that such a ridiculous bill would pass, nevertheless, one has been introduced that would seek a ban on cellphone possession or usage by anyone under 21.

The bill was introduced by Democratic state senator John Rodgers (D-Essex-Orleans) on the very first day of the 2020 legislative season.

That’s right and this ex post facto law, which is unconstitutional, would turn a normal under 21-years-old person into a criminal with a maximum of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine!

Yes, you read that right.  For possessing or using a cellphone, a year in jail and $1,000 bucks to the almighty beast in Vermont.

“The Internet and social media, accessed primarily through cell phones, are used to radicalize and recruit terrorists, fascists, and other extremists. Cell phones have often been used by mass shooters of younger ages for research on previous shootings,” the bill reads.

“Young people frequently use cell phones to bully and threaten other young people, activities that have been linked to many suicides,” the bill states.  “In light of the dangerous and life-threatening consequences of cell phone use by young people, it is clear that persons under 21 years of age are not developmentally mature enough to safely possess them.”

I’ll add that they have also been used by middle-aged bureaucrats in government to text about committing crimes against the president, but I don’t see Rodgers making that point, do you?

The Barre Montpelier Times Argus reports:

The bill, S.212, would make such possession or use a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of a year behind bars and a $1,000 fine.

It said cellphone use while driving is one of the leading killers of teenagers. It also said young people use cellphones frequently to bully and threaten each other, something that has been linked to suicides.

So, did this guy forget there are tons of other ways to bully?

No, apparently, he doesn’t even believe in it enough to vote for it nor does he think it will pass.  Instead, he said he introduced it to make a point.

“I have no delusions that it’s going to pass. I wouldn’t probably vote for it myself,” he said.

Rodgers claims he supports the Second Amendment, yeah right, but somehow believes a cellphone is more dangerous than a gun?  Give me a break!

The Times Argus adds:

Michelle Fay is the executive director of Voices for Vermont’s Children, an organization based out of Montpelier that promotes public policy that enhances the lives of children and youth in the state.

Fay 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.”

She said in an interview Wednesday there’s no question technology plays a role with children treating each other badly, but isolating cellphones doesn’t seem to make sense because they will still be able to use computers.

“It feels like a reach, for sure,” she said.

Fay said parents rely on cellphone access to be able to get in touch with their kids. She said most of the calls teen drivers receive come from their parents.

She said it’s already against the law to text and drive. Fay said there need to be more conversations about distracted driving.

“For teenagers, people in their car is a bigger distraction than cellphones,” she said.

While there are a plethora of distractions today in cars for both young adults and those more mature, this kind of silly notions of banning things that were once legal, even to make a point, sets the stage for later down the road when people will not only introduce these bills seriously, but others will openly embrace them.

This guy has no place in public service if he isn’t taking it seriously and wasting the people’s time with something that is unconstitutional and he doesn’t even believe in it.

Article posted with permission from Sons Of Liberty Media


Tim Brown

Tim Brown is a Christian and lover of liberty, a husband to his "more precious than rubies" wife, father of 10 "mighty arrows" and jack of all trades. He lives in the US-Occupied State of South Carolina, is the Editor at SonsOfLibertyMedia.com, GunsInTheNews.com and TheWashingtonStandard.com. and SettingBrushfires.com; and also broadcasts on The Sons of Liberty radio weekdays at 6am EST and Saturdays at 8am EST. Follow Tim on Twitter. Also check him out on Gab, Minds, and USALife.
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