Helmet laws - for or against

[sapaul]

Why be all politically correct, if you do not wear a helmet, you are "procreating" stupid

[HYPERR]

if you do not wear a helmet, you are "procreating" stupid

I concur 100%.

[Whip Lash]

I am mostly for wearing a helmet. I don't care if anyone else chooses not to wear one however. Wearing a helmet may save your life but in the big scheme of things, when it is your time to go you are going to go. I have ridden with and without. I also used to ride around in cars with and without seat belts. Now I feel weird if I get in a car and don't wear a seat belt. I like being tucked in. There are times in my suburban neighborhood that I would like to ride my motorcycle around the block so I can hear what the engine is doing (running well or not). Also it is nice to dry my hair after a shower by a short cruise in the neighborhood with out a helmet. Could get a shorter hair style I suppose and forget about helmet head. Had a low speed high side because my fuel hose came off the petcock and gas soaked my rear tire. Lucky for me I had a helmet on and when I landed on my head I was okay. Some would argue that point however. Ha. Elbow hurt and separated shoulder is still (and always will be) separated but hey...I still smiling. On the plus side I got a new motorcycle.

[Markg1]

No! No! No! Enough government!

[bikerguy]

I voted limited i think under 16 should wear a helmet and riders with a permit. We have enough laws it should be a choise to wear a helmet not a law.

[Grey Thumper]

Hmmm. Been a while since I've gone through this thread.

Anyway, I live in a country without socialized healthcare. My taxes don't pay for the mistakes (or the unfortunate circumstances) of others. Therefore, I don't think there's a justification for a helmet law here.

If I did live in a country with socialized healthcare, my opinion would be muddied. I'd be more understanding of a helmet law, but the "for the common good" argument still lies down a dangerous path. Taken to its extreme, its an excuse for regulating pretty much anything that's potentially unhealthy and/or dangerous, including everything from the fat in your diet to the act of riding motorcycles in general.

[spydercanopus]

The United States is supposed to be about personal liberty. Not cool to tell people what to do unless the Constitution gives you the right. And there aren't many constitutional mandates on behavior. We're far away from our founding father's idea of freedom.

[HYPERR]

We're far away from our founding father's idea of freedom.

And that is a very good thing!

[spydercanopus]

We're far away from our founding father's idea of freedom.

And that is a very good thing!

Um.. ok. Good thing they thought you had the right to disagree. Too bad you don't appreciate it.

[HYPERR]

We're far away from our founding father's idea of freedom.

And that is a very good thing!

Um.. ok. Good thing they thought you had the right to disagree. Too bad you don't appreciate it.

You do realize how hypocritical they were don't you?

“If there be an object truly ridiculous in nature, it is an American patriot, signing resolutions of independency with the one hand, and with the other brandishing a whip over his affrighted slaves”.
Thomas Day 1776

Written by a slaveholder, Thomas Jefferson:
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

My favorite has to be Patrick Henry who is famous for his quote "Give me liberty or give me death". When asked to free his slaves, he declined, saying it would be "inconvenient".

Don't get me wrong, Thomas Jefferson was a remarkable man, the main author of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the great founding fathers of the United States.

Some may argue it is a-historical to criticize our founding fathers for their sins of slavery, others will disagree. Regardless, their idea of freedom certainly differed from our idea of freedom today.