The Mission City Council quickly dismissed the idea of raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 at its meeting this week, with Councilor Pat Quinn the most vocal in opposition during a recent committee meeting. Quinn cited the fact that since 18-year-olds can join the military and defend the country, they should be able to purchase a legal product such as tobacco when returning from service. He was joined in defeating the idea by Councilor Suzie Gibbs, who questioned whether or not an age increase would indeed reduce youth smoking, according to the Prairie Village Post. According to the report, the proposal would have made sales of tobacco products to persons under 21-years-old illegal, but would not have criminalized possession or usage. The city of just under 10,000 residents currently has six tobacco retailers. Mission is located about eight miles southwest of Kansas City, Kan., which recently passed an increase of the tobacco purchasing age from 18 to 21, along with Wyandotte County, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo.
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