{"id":207921,"date":"2020-01-10T22:39:41","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T14:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geek.com\/featured\/-1815959\/"},"modified":"2020-01-10T22:39:41","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T14:39:41","slug":"vermont-bill-would-ban-cell-phone-use-by-under-21s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/test\/wordpress\/2020\/01\/10\/vermont-bill-would-ban-cell-phone-use-by-under-21s\/","title":{"rendered":"Vermont Bill Would Ban Cell Phone Use By Under-21s"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(via Jan Va\u0161ek\/Pixabay)<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Vermont Sen. John Rodgers wants to ruin teenagers’ lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Democrat this week introduced a bill<\/a> that would prohibit anyone under 21 from using or owning a cell phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Citing distracted driving, bullying, and extremism as teenage problems, Rodgers claims that minors “are not developmentally mature enough to safely possess” a handset.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Just as the General Assembly has concluded that persons under 21 years of age are not mature enough to possess firearms, smoke cigarettes, or consume alcohol,” he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s no question that texting and driving can prove lethal: Nearly 300 people died in crashes involving a distracted teen motorist in 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Rodgers’ argument that cell phones are involved in 1.6 million automobile accidents a year and 11 teenagers perish in U.S. car crashes every day* is weak: There is no direct correlation between the two.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slightly more credible is his anti-bullying defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Young people frequently use cell phones to bully and threaten other young people, activities that have been linked to many suicides,” Rodgers’ bill said.<\/span><\/p>\n

He goes on to describe how the internet and social media\u2014”accessed primarily through cell phones”\u2014are used to “radicalize and recruit terrorists**, fascists, and other extremists.”<\/span><\/p>\n

And explains that “cell phones have often been used by mass shooters** of younger ages for research on previous shootings.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Sorry to burst your bubble, Senator, but taking away someone’s mobile phone won’t stop them from harassing people, allying with the wrong crowd, or doing research.<\/span><\/p>\n

For that, you’d have to ban computers, social networks, and the internet as a whole. While you’re at it, why not close libraries and start burning books, too?<\/span><\/p>\n

No, kids under 21 can’t buy guns, cigarettes, or alcohol\u2014but they can get someone else to do it for them. Ever heard of a fake ID?<\/span><\/p>\n

Even Rodgers is skeptical about his bill, which was introduced to make a point about firearms.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I have no delusions that it’s going to pass,” he told<\/a> the <\/span>Times Argus<\/span><\/i>. “I wouldn’t probably vote for it myself.”<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the legislation, possession or use of a cell phone by anyone under 21 would be punishable by up to one year in jail and\/or a $1,000 fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Via the U.S. Department of Transportation<\/span><\/p>\n

** Average age of jihadists in the US is late 20s<\/a>; average age of shooters in the US is early 30s<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

More on Geek.com:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n