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.
If I am jumping to conclusions, then you are not reading.
Nowhere have I said helmets are a bad idea. On the contrary, I say they are good.
However, do we need government mandates to force us to do what is good for us, by their decision?
Do we no longer bear responsibility for ourselves and our children? Shouldn’t it be the parents telling their kids to wear a helmet, if they wish them to and not government threatening confiscation of personal property?
I maintain your use of labeling those who see things differently than you as “idiots” only denigrates the discussion and eventually leads to losing one more liberty as we allow government to make our decisions for us and take self responsibility away.