JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri House on Monday sent legislation to the governor that would bar minors from purchasing electric cigarettes and products.

The bill passed out of the Missouri House by a 127-19 votes. Six Republicans – including Rep. Keith Frederick, a practicing orthopedic surgeon – joined 13 Democrats in opposition to the bill.

The bill, if approved by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, would restrict alternative nicotine products and vapor products from being sold to anyone under the age of 18 in the same way the state limits access to traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Democrats on Monday were critical of the legislature for not taxing electronic cigarettes in the same way traditional tobacco products are taxed.

“E-cigarettes aren’t tobacco products,” said Rep. Caleb Rowden, a Columbia Republican who carried the bill. He pointed to a FDA ruling that differentiated electronic vapor products from traditional cigarettes. “The FDA has ruled in the affirmative of what we’re doing with this language.”

Rep. Jeff Roorda, a Democrat, pointed to the legislature’s opposition to federal gun rules as an example of the state legislature nullifying the federal government’s concerns. When Rowden said guns and electronic cigarettes are two different issues, Roorda retorted, “they’re both deadly if you stick them in your mouth.”

Rowden said “we may very well get there” in terms of taxing electronic cigarettes like traditional cigarettes, “but today, we know these aren’t tobacco products and aren’t begin treated as tobacco products.”

Nixon has not yet weighed in on the policy change.

The vote: