Prevention Matters

A creative contest that helped pay for a New England high school’s prom in return for student’s pledges not to tan for it was named the Best Prevention Idea of the Week, while an amendment passed by the U.S. Senate gutting the District of Columbia’s ability to restrict the use of firearms was named the Worst Prevention Idea of the Week.

The Best/Worst honors are a regular feature of Prevention Matters. Each week, Partnership for Prevention's staff will choose the designees based on nominations of items in the previous week’s news submitted by members, staff and the public at large. To submit a nomination or for more information, contact Damon Thompson at dthompson@prevent.org.

BEST IDEA

High School Wins $1,000 for Not Tanning

Over 500 Waltham, MA, High School students promised not to tan for this year's prom - and it paid off. As part of the Your Skin is In contest, the school won $1,000 from the Melanoma Foundation of New England to use toward the spring dance. The nonprofit, dedicated to education about early detection and prevention of melanoma, asked students across New England to sign a no-tanning pledge. Schools that got at least 70 percent of their prom-going class to sign the pledge were entered into a raffle with a chance to win $1,000 or $500 in prizes and tickets to Six Flags New England. Over 5,500 students across New England signed the pledge. Schools that got at least 70 percent of their prom-going class to sign the pledge were entered into a raffle with a chance to win $1,000 or $500 in prizes and tickets to Six Flags New England. Over 5,500 students across New England signed the pledge.


WORST IDEA

Senate approves amendment gutting DC gun restrictions

District of Columbia residents would have far greater access to firearms, including semiautomatic weapons, under a measure approved recently by the U.S. Senate. The 62-36 vote was a victory for the pro-gun lobby which has waged a lengthy battle against the tough antigun laws imposed by the district on its residents. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., offered the measure as an amendment to legislation giving the district a vote in the House of Representatives. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, in protesting the amendment, said it would allow D.C. residents to cross state lines to buy handguns in neighboring states and would repeal the district's ban on military-style weapons, including sniper rifles that can pierce armor plating. It would lower from 21 to the federal limit of 18 the age when people can possess handguns and ease the district's registration requirements.