st. paul

If providing candy cigarettes causes kids to start smoking, why doesn't providing condoms cause kids to start having sex?

Seems ridiculous, and the law seems ridiculous, but as long as the law exists the city is obligated to respond if an infraction is reported (no matter how stupid).

Really? As parents we're just throwing up our hands and saying we cannot control our child's behavior because some store sells candy cigarettes? Parents really need to be parents, not "best buds" with their kids and that means explaining what is going on with these items. That said, there's probably more risk of obesity than smoking with these items. However, if your child can get sucked into smoking or chew because of candy cigarettes, bubblegum cigars and chew, then they're probably going to get a lot worse habits as they get older.

cgkruse, most people can't keep up the the multitude of laws that are past every year with little or no press coverage. It is the citizens right to protest before, OR after laws are enacted. Furthermore we have the right to hold public officials accountable for the silly laws that they wrote, sponsored or voted for. To say that the time has passed for people to debate this law because it was enacted in 2009 is ....well, to be kind, ignorant.

This is all the more reason why I need to take it on as a personal hobby to find seek and destroy the jobs of anyone who has a government related job that is a complete waste of tax payer dollars...If these people have nothing better to then to screw around with such petty stuff just to bring in some fine revenue "fundraising" they really need to find there jobs eliminated...

cgkruse, you're missing the point. There has been almost no public awareness that the ordinance against the sale of candy cigarettes existed. It's an obscure and esoteric item that the Saint Paul city council favored to pass regardless of public sentiment or evidence of health impact. The shop owners, as well, I'm sure, most other Saint Paul shop owners and city residents, were ignorant of the ordinance's existence before this took place. There has been no clear advertisement of its existence. The fine for its violation is extreme in its punishment. This absolutely exemplifies bad government for its thoughtlessness and delivery.

Haha, this is priceless, and proof how full of sheet many of our laws are. I love how we were supposed to protest this in 2009, as if anyone knew! We have jobs to do, and we elect politicians thinking they are going to do good things when all they do is bleep up. Every one of them thinks they need to add a law to honor themselves, every family member who died of something, and friends and how lovely to teach kids how a bill becomes law by cutely passing and illogical bill to teach them. HOPEFULLY those same kids learn about how we don't need that many new laws. Better yet to maybe get ride of a few HUNDRED THOUSAND of them!!! I have never smoked, but I had candy cigarettes as a kid. Don't drink much, but had root beer too. Oh wait, I am fat... Nevermind, this is a spectacular law as kids might get fat like me cause of candy. If candy got you smoking, you have bigger issues and need your head examined.

The progressives will not be happy until everything but teen pregnancy, food stamps for all, and 50K from the 1% is given to everyone. What a bunch of malarky! St. Paul sucks! From: a former smoker

"This law was passed in 2009; if you wanted to debate its logic or rationale, that was the time to do so."

The public is not aware of the bills being debated and what they contain. Need an example? Obamacare. Even the people that voted for it never read it.

ARRey sez: ***Where should I complain about the hooligans that make my shopping experience scary at the MOA?*** You could start at the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, work you way over to the City of Bloomington, and then to the Minneapolis StarTribune. All of whom are partially responsible for the destruction of a fine baseball stadium and ice arena for the benefit of a few Canadian carpetbaggers.