We respect a Denver dad’s dilemma to get kids off the cell phones and back into the real world, but a ballot measure making it illegal for parents to buy phones for their kids is not the answer.

Maybe it’s because this dad is a doctor that he thinks that moms and pops in Colorado can afford to buy expensive smartphones for their kids younger than 13.

Truth be told, most kids are playing with their parent’s cell phone. And those that do own their own are probably at the 13 year mark, and traveling far distances to school, or have other extracurricular activities, and their parents just want to keep in touch.

But the proposed law doesn’t go after parents, it targets retailers.

The ban would require cellphone retailers to ask customers about the age of the primary user of a smartphone and submit monthly reports to the Colorado Department of Revenue on adhering to the requirement.

Retailers who sell a phone for use by a youngster could be fined $500, after a warning.

Ballot supporters will be out in force soon to get the 300,000 signatures needed to make the ballot next year.

Despite the intention, it’s literally nanny government and a terrible idea. We think parents will agree.