Actually here in Florida we just got back one of our freedoms. We now have a choice to wear or not wear a helmet. The pros and cons of wearing a helmet is a different story, the fact is, Gov. Jeb returned our freedom to make our own choice. :-)
Our legislature here in Oregon has voted to make helmet wearing voluntary, but the liberal gov has vetoed it every time...
Maybe we'll get a pubbie gov this Nov??
Here in Iowa it's been your choice for quite a while with helmets. Cars are not that safe either, and helmets would be a good choice for cars, but I don't want to give them any ideas.
My first ride was a homebrew minibike with a Clinton (Iowa) 4 stroke cast iron water pump motor (I tuned it up in Junior High Shop, learned how to lap valves and dress points, replace coil, etc, and was the only one in class to actually get their engine running) on a frame, a string for a throttle, and not much else. It was Great.