Try the ice cream challenge? Not under HB 2299

Arizona bill would make gross behavior like that a crime

Legislation shouldn’t be needed to encourage people to not be disgusting, but here we are in 2020, and apparently, people need reminding.

Arizona House Bill 2299, introduced by Rep. T.J. Shoop, would make it a crime to “knowingly introduce, add or mingle any bodily fluid, foreign object not intended for human consumption or unsanitary surface with any water, food, drink or other product that may be consumed by a human being,” Capitol Media Services reports.

Such offenses would be a Class 2 misdemeanor, with up to four months in the county jail and a fine of $750. Unless, of course, the perpetrator posted photos or videos of such acts online, in which case it becomes a felony, with up to a year in state prison, Capitol Media Services reports. Readers, you might be wondering why we would need such legislation.

The move stems from those viral videos last year in which people walked into grocery stores, popped open an ice cream container, licked the top and put the ice cream back in the store freezer. In the process, they recorded videos or photos and posted them on social media, calling it the “ice cream challenge,” under some misguided notion that it was a “cool” thing to do.

Capitol Media Services also reports that people are “spitting into containers of iced tea and putting the containers back for others to buy.”

Shoop says that there is no specific law in Arizona that covers such behavior, so HB 2299 would remedy that.

In general , we hate to see legislation that is intended to step in because legislators assume that common sense has failed. We would prefer to see common sense prevail, thus making such legislation a moot point.

But here we are in 2020, and Shoop may have a point. Sometimes, stronger deterrents are required when people ignore standards for human decency.

Sometimes, “Don’t be gross” isn’t enough of a message.

What do you think, readers? Is HB 2299 a good idea, or no? Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www. YumaSun.com, or send in a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the many people involved in my rescue in the Kofa Mountains Jan. 4-9 of this year.

My SUV was stuck and I was injured. Additionally, I was dehydrated and running low on water when found. A great job was done by the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, Border Patrol, DPS and individuals. Among this latter group was the Shaun Lathcik family. They were able to locate my vehicle, extricate it and tow it out to my home.

These sorts of deeds are what make Yuma such a great place to live.

Again, thanks to all for a job well done!