Fla. rep. wants to end dwarf-tossing ban

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- A Florida state lawmaker has introduced a bill to end the 22-year-old ban on barroom "dwarf tossing," saying the policy is bad for the economy.

Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, who introduced a bill to overturn the 1989 ban this week, said the law is "an example of Big Brother government," The Palm Beach Post reported Thursday.

"All that it does is prevent some dwarfs from getting jobs they would be happy to get," Workman said. "In this economy, or any economy, why would we want to prevent people from getting gainful employment?"

However, Workman said he does not necessarily support the practice of dwarf tossing.

"I would never force anybody to take this form of employment or pay to watch it," Workman said. "I think it's repulsive and stupid. But it's none of the state's business if somebody wants to do this."

Robert Van Etten, 62, former president of Little People of America, said overturning the ban would be a step in the wrong direction.

"The people who were thrown were alcoholics with low self-esteem," Van Etten said. "Many of them were injured. One committed suicide."