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Jinn · 07-11-2011, 11:20 AM

When I lived in CO (a "ride free" state) I wore my helmet every day for about 10,000 miles of rides. I'm not arguing that it's not a life saver, only that government legislating "safety" on individuals without a clear public concern is unacceptable. The law clearly didn't require me to wear a helmet, but I did because I'm not retarded.

I didn't wear my helmet today because I was going from my door to the gas station to get an energy drink, a total distance of 0.67 miles, round trip, with a posted speed limit of 25 mph. The time to put on my helmet and gloves and jacket is equal or greater to the time actually riding, and the risk of severe injury or death on a one lane road at posted limits in clear weather, extremely low to low traffic and clear mind is quite arguably no higher than the danger of walking the same distance; should they mandate I wear a helmet to walk that distance? That's what liberty is about; allowing people to self-determine their lives, even to make decisions on their own, without the government interceding.

What of the "my right to swing my arms ends at your face"? I'll reiterate again that the decision to wear or not wear a helmet affects none but the rider and (potentially) their loved ones, and legislating protection here does not serve the public interest. I know you're making caricatures (as you're wont to do) of other examples which clearly present a societal interest; traffic laws quite obviously serve the interest of many people as well as regulate the safety and order of society. Seat belts fall into the same sort of category as helmets, provided the wearer is above the age of 18. Protection of minors is a clear imperative of a just system, and "age discrimination" or not, we are well within our needs as a society to order parents and other adults to take reasonable protections for the safety of a child, even if they themselves opt to not use that same protection.

07-11-2011, 11:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	When I lived in CO (a "ride free" state) I wore my helmet every day for about 10,000 miles of rides. I'm not arguing that it's not a life saver, only that government legislating "safety" on individuals without a clear public concern is unacceptable. The law clearly didn't require me to wear a helmet, but I did because I'm not retarded. I didn't wear my helmet today because I was going from my door to the gas station to get an energy drink, a total distance of 0.67 miles, round trip, with a posted speed limit of 25 mph. The time to put on my helmet and gloves and jacket is equal or greater to the time actually riding, and the risk of severe injury or death on a one lane road at posted limits in clear weather, extremely low to low traffic and clear mind is quite arguably no higher than the danger of walking the same distance; should they mandate I wear a helmet to walk that distance? That's what liberty is about; allowing people to self-determine their lives, even to make decisions on their own, without the government interceding. What of the "my right to swing my arms ends at your face"? I'll reiterate again that the decision to wear or not wear a helmet affects none but the rider and (potentially) their loved ones, and legislating protection here does not serve the public interest. I know you're making caricatures (as you're wont to do) of other examples which clearly present a societal interest; traffic laws quite obviously serve the interest of many people as well as regulate the safety and order of society. Seat belts fall into the same sort of category as helmets, provided the wearer is above the age of 18. Protection of minors is a clear imperative of a just system, and "age discrimination" or not, we are well within our needs as a society to order parents and other adults to take reasonable protections for the safety of a child, even if they themselves opt to not use that same protection. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel Last edited by Jinn; 07-11-2011 at 11:24 AM..