For several years now, perhaps even close to a decade but I cannot be sure, some members of the Missouri legislature have tried to repeal the motorcycle helmet law. It often passes the House and gets smeared in the Senate. This year the Senate attached it to a longer bill and hit as received little debate.
When I ride my bike to Kentucky every summer with my Dad and some friends, as soon as we cross the state line we pull over and everyone takes off their lids. All except me. I've worked around persons with disabilities for years and I've seen what traumatic brain injuries do to people and their families. It ain't pretty.
I keep my helmet on – nice and snug – and ride anyway, amongst throngs of bikers with hair a flowin'. I don't mind a bit, no sir. I take the teasing just fine because I would prefer to give my brain at least some protection against the pavement. That concrete is hard stuff and while I do ride, I try to be safe for my wife and daughter's sake.
You may be wondering if I will I take off my helmet when it's not required? Nope.
Read this short article from the News-Leader.
When I ride my bike to Kentucky every summer with my Dad and some friends, as soon as we cross the state line we pull over and everyone takes off their lids. All except me. I've worked around persons with disabilities for years and I've seen what traumatic brain injuries do to people and their families. It ain't pretty.
I keep my helmet on – nice and snug – and ride anyway, amongst throngs of bikers with hair a flowin'. I don't mind a bit, no sir. I take the teasing just fine because I would prefer to give my brain at least some protection against the pavement. That concrete is hard stuff and while I do ride, I try to be safe for my wife and daughter's sake.
You may be wondering if I will I take off my helmet when it's not required? Nope.
Read this short article from the News-Leader.
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6 comments:
Jack, you're exactly the type of person that a free and prosperous nation needs. Someone that takes responsibility for their own actions and does not depend upon government to make your decisions for you.
I wouldn't consider myself a biker, but every time I have ridden a motorcycle, whether it be in the back pastures of my Grandfather's ranch, or on the streets, I've worn a helmet.
My brother is definitely more of a biker than me, but we disagree on whether the helmet law is a good thing. He feels that repealing the law would be a bad thing. I feel that this is just one of the many examples of the Government trying to make decisions for individuals.
I feel that individuals should be allowed to make mistakes that they suffer the consequences for. If they make bad decisions that cost others money, or otherwise injure others, they should be responsible for that impact as well.
You know, if you had some hair for wind to flow through, you might feel differently! ;)
The guy that cuts my hair rides a lot and I asked him how he felt about helmet laws one time. He said that he always wears a helmet in town, but on the road, when he's going 50-60-70+ mph, he said he'd prefer not to wear a helmet, because at those speeds, a helmet isn't going to make much of a difference. He said he'd rather buy it right then then be in a coma the rest of his life.
(Note: Still have not seen Watchmen.)
I agree with Jeremy that we need more people who take responsibility for their own actions and take steps to see their actions have consequences like impact on families. Good on you for taking the steps to protect yourself.
Thanks for the kind words, guys.
A fact I didn't mention before:
The bikers who don't like helmets typically wear brain buckets. Those are the plastic "helmets" that have no protection. I have one. Used to wear it, but not anymore. It is not DOT approved and is technically not legal. The police do not stop you if you wear it, so that's what most folks use. This appears to be especially true with Harley riders, but not always.
This also means that those people are no more protected than the ones who wear no helmet. So I am not really sure if health care will really go up, since those guys really aren't wearing protection in the first place.
They sell them all over the place and they are pretty comfy and look good. But they do nothing for your head.
Just so you know.
two words:
Gary Busey
ps word verification: psycha!
Hey, Chris,
We agree on this one 100%! As you know I used to race Sports and Stocxk Cars and to this day can't drive a car without fastening the seatbelt. Should wear a helmet as well, but don't (in the car)... On the bike I wear a full face, flip, helmet, not to protect my handsome face but to keep the gravel out out of my face.
Thanks for taking this position on something this important. It is too bad that millions of Americans aren't smart enough to protect themselves.
I'm going to wear mine in July all the way to and from Sturges, KY. or to anyplace else.
Hope I sewnt this right.
Thanks,
Grump
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