OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma lawmakers are debating whether to increase the legal age that tobacco products can be purchased, News on 6 reports. The measure would raise the age from 18 years old to 21 years old.

State Rep. Ann Coody said her desire in bringing the proposal to the floor was to save lives. "I certainly don't want to hurt business" she said. "I don't want to hurt convenience stores; I don't want to hurt anybody."

Opponents say the law could harm businesses that sell tobacco products, such as smoke shops. Todd Naifeh, owner of ZT Cigars, said the bill would hand over too much control to the government.

"I think the bigger picture it is more of an invasion of personal liberty than it is about stopping smoking," he said. "I don't know how much help it is going to do."

Naifeh said the change probably wouldn??t impact his shop much. "My core group of customers are 25 to 65 years old so I don't really have a big group that comes in at 18," he said.

If passed, the law would raise the age incrementally over the next three years: 19 years old by 2013, 20 years old by 2014 and 21 years old by 2015. The measure is slated for review in the House.