In an effort to create jobs, Florida State Representative Ritch Workman is attempting to repeal a bill passed in 1989- one that put a ban on the sport of “Dwarf-Tossing.”
Explaining his initiative, the Republican from District 30 said, “I’m on a quest to seek and destroy unnecessary burdens on the freedom and liberties of people. This is an example of Big Brother government. All that it does is prevent some dwarfs from getting jobs they would be happy to get,” he said.
Workman does not plan on personally gaining from the initiative. “I would never force anybody to take this form of employment or pay to watch it,” he told The Palm Beach Post.
He went on to call the activity “repulsive and stupid,” but continued by saying, “It’s none of the state’s business if somebody wants to do this.”
The proposed bill has already garnered public disapproval from some of Workman’s constituents. David Dodge, a Florida advocate for the Little People of America, said, “The possibility of getting paralyzed is high, and then to be used as an object for people’s amusement is very degrading.”
Former president of Little people of America, Robert Van Etten, has spent years working with his wife to spread awareness of the dangers of dwarf tossing.
He has spoken out against the proposed bill saying that it is a step backward, giving legal validation to the mockery of little people.
“It’s something that brings out the worst element in some people, and it’s focused on people who are the most vulnerable,” the 3-foot-5 Van Etten said.
Channing Hailey can be reached at channing.hailey@spartans.ut.edu.
This is good. It should create maybe 7 and a HALF jobs for the Tampa area. I am ok with anything that creates jobs.