SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A proposal to ban novelty cigarette lighters that sailed through the state Senate was defeated Thursday by the state House 51-65.

The measure, Senate Bill 2180, by state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-Champaign, was aimed at banning the sale of lighters shaped like toys, cartoon characters and tools — items children are more likely to pick up and play with.

Jakobsson said the novelty lighters don’t meet federal regulations, in part because most do not require two actions to produce a flame.

The ease with which they light and their similarity to children’s toys are why proponents wanted them banned.

But critics said the proposal was unclear on who would be responsible if such a lighter was sold. Others wondered if a lighter shaped like Jesus or a celebrity would be banned since it would not fit into one of the bill’s narrow categories of what is “novelty.”

“There is a big difference between a good intention and a good piece of legislation,” said state Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, one of the most outspoken critics. “This is definitely one, but it’s not the other.”