Ban the sale and distribution of plastic shopping bags

We believe that the distribution of plastic shopping bags as a means of carrying groceries or other bought items should be made illegal. These bags are one of the biggest sources of litter, as they often end up on the street, and decompose slowly. While they remain intact, they pose a danger to marine and terrestrial wildlife, who often mistake them for food, or get caught in them. We believe that the use of these bags is a harmful waste, and should be replaced by more environmentally sane alternatives, like paper. Many cities have already banned these bags, including Aspen CO, Boulder CO, Berkely CA, Santa Monica CA, Austin TX, San Francisco CA, Bethel AK, New York NY, and Washington DC. We believe that the rest of the country should follow suit.