st. paul

Dave Thune should get right on this!

One would think a human being could make the choice themselves of whether they wanted to purchase or sell a candy item. Unfortunately, many people feel like we need some soft of mechanism to enforce this moral code on others. That is truly a shame that people rely on government for petty things like this. Maybe this person who reported these folks should just make the decision to not go to that store again.

I think the Mayans were acually right

"In April 2009, a unanimous City Council outlawed candy smokes and cartoon character lighters. The council cited a study showing that these products encouraged youngsters to take up smoking tobacco." So the city of St Paul is using it's enforcement resources to stop the sale of candy. I guess gang rapes and the killing of police officers in that city would be a waste of taxpayers time and money to try to prevent, but "Hey we got the illegal candy vendors!!! Aint we great???"

I do agree that we have the choice if we want to go back into this candy store. I just don't want my child to associate candy cigarettes with nicotine. I care, because I watched someone very dear die of lung cancer. I remember when I was in Prague, a candy shop sold individual cigarettes for very little money. I saw children smoking. In the case of the Lynden's, they are associating something pleasant with something that is very unhealthy. This candy store is more appropriate for adults and not children. I believe once parents read this article or hear about it, they will take their children some place else. Besides making money, did they think about the message they were sending to children?

Even when I was a little kid, and LOVED that candy, I thought it was weird to sell a candy that caused kids to emulate smokers. No, the candy doesn't cause cancer, but nobody ever just ate a candy cigarette. Part of the fun was playing "smoker." That can't be a good idea. I'm sort of surprised the city didn't just call the store and say "Hey, we heard you're selling candy cigarettes, do you know that's not allowed?" Sending out an inspector seems like a waste of tax dollars. But I'm perfectly happy that every store doesn't sell those things. We have enough new young smokers wihout selling candy to kids that encourages them to play at smoking.

Kids play with these fake cigarettes to pretend they are smoking. These fake cigarettes are not cute, or are they a delicious form of candy. There is a reason they are not allowed in stores, these "pretend" cigarettes help get kids used to the idea that smoking in carcinogens is a normal activity. Get over it folks and acting like it is the end of the world if stores cannot sell these fake cigarettes.

I guess it is time to ban kiddie cars from the fair. It will only encourage them to steal a car and take it for a joy ride before they are a legal age to drive. Will there be a mad rush to go purchase the last of the items before they are all gone? I might have to make a trip to St. Paul so that I don't miss out on my childhood from many many years ago!!

Undeniable proof that government is way too big. If they can't find any criminals or victims; they manufacture their own. The nanny state crusaders who championed the initial bans on cigarette advertising on television in 1970 would never have believed that their ability to limit our freedoms would eventually become this successful. I somehow doubt that the Star Trib will shine any light on the politicians who actually voted for this law the next time they face an election.

Ridiculous. Why can't government just back off. Go back to the basics of what government is supposed to be and let us have our freedoms back. Live free or die.