The point of my posting this is not whether or not helmets are a good idea or not, I think they are. It is, however, an indication of how much do we want our lives controlled by government forces who feel free to confiscate private property should we decide to exercise our free will.
In the last two years I have two friends involved in motorcycle accidents, both wearing required helmets. One was a classic right of way violation as a lady changed lanes into him. He died on the side of the road, the helmet did not help him. The question is, could he have seen her changing lanes in his periphial vision had he not had on a full helmet and swerved to avoid her? We’ll never know.
The second was broadsided by a drunk illegal immigrant and took off his leg. Did the helmet save him from further injury? I believe so.
If we are going to allow government to decide what is best for us, should we not all be required to walk around in a suit of armor and only be allowed to own and drive armored vehicles?
If we are to be government mandated “safe,” why do we allow bungee jumping, sky-diving, motorocyles, ecomony cars or even human contact and more?
Every little step we allow to let in more government intrusion robs us of one more little precious liberty.
Labeling those who may feel different in exercising their freedom as “idiots” just bolsters government intrusion into our lives.
Government cannot even handle law-breakers violating our borders. How can they mandate our safety?
you jumped to a conclusion that was wrong. If you read the pertinent posts, you are an idiot if you don’t wear a helmet, not because you obey or disobey a law. Paleo made the point and it was ignored by an overzealous FReeper who tried to make it about freedom and encroachment of law.
To give you a good example of the law and idiots, somewhere, maybe even here in Tennessee, A cop arrested a motor cycalist for not wearing a helmet. The cyclist showed up in court, defended his action and won the case. It seems he had the helmet strapped to his leg at the time and so far as the law was concerned, he was wearing the helmet. The law did not stipulate where the helmet should be worn.
He won the case, showed himself a fierce fighter for rights and an idiot.
You can cite examples till hell freezes over, but it is good safe preactice to wear a helmet.