Man dies protesting helmet law

[Keith Reedy]

He was stupid; purposefully riding without a helmet was pretty dumb. But I actually agree with him. The problem with both the helmet and seat belt laws is that the only person at risk is the one not wearing one of the aforementioned equipment. American government is intended to allow freedom, essentially meaning that you can do whatever idiotic thing you want as long as it's not going to hurt someone else, which is why things like murder and theft are illegal but licking a spark plug is not. Laws are not supposed to keep us safe from ourselves, they're supposed to keep us safe from others and others safe from us.

Issue being, sometimes we forget to put on a seatbelt. Or perhaps we lost our helmet. And we end up needing to pay a ticket because we had the audacity to put ourselves, and no one else, at risk, probably just because of forgetfulness or something. I don't see that as in line with the constitution or generally okay on principle for a country that was formed specifically with freedom in mind.

Just a quick point, a person not wearing a seat belt can endanger others specifically anyone in the car with them. If they are in a serious accident there have been cases of an unbelted person bouncing around the car and seriously injuring or kill the others in the car.

So yeah, thats a good law.

 

[Spygon]

It was his choice and he died because of it.I support his freedom of choice to wear a helmet but then he suffered the conquences of his choice so moving on

 

[Tilted_Logic]

I'm afraid I don't understand why you wouldn't want to wear a helmet. I've been privy to more than one motorcyclist getting hit in the face by a bird/insect when wearing even a half helmet. None of them would ride anywhere without a full face helmet now-a-days.

In that respect I don't comprehend why you'd ride a motorcycle without any form of head protection, sure you can say you "won't crash" but the general rule is 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst'. Not to mention wind at high speed without any face protection is not all it's cracked up to be.

In some ways I can support freedom of choice, but really if you're going to choose to ride without a helmet, you shouldn't expect extensive medical care. I'm not paying taxes to keep stupidity on the road.

Edit: Actually around here you can legally drive a motorcycle at age 15, and people tend to assume they're indestructible during their teenage years. Being forced to wear a helmet by law could mean the difference between a cocky kid not seeing tomorrow and surviving to ride another day. So if people really want the freedom of choice, I'd be more inclined to understand a mandatory helmet law until age 18; at least kids might have an appreciation for protection by then.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43624650/ns/us_news-life/?gt1=43001

Apparently he fell off his motorcycle and died when he struck his head. Having a helmet on would have saved his life. Share your thoughts

This case does I think prove my point on these kind of laws, basically "We shouldn't have laws to protect the lives of idiots."

 

[Gamblerjoe]

I knew that people would make comments on how this is an ironic death. Irony is when you get the opposite of what you expect, usually in a figurative kind of way. When someone opts to take the more dangerous option in a situation, and dies because of it, that is the opposite of irony.

This has been a public service announcement from Gamblerjoe to you.

No, the irony is that he and others claim there is no need for a helmet, then in trying to prove that he proved he was wrong.

being wrong isnt ironic. its just being wrong.

 

[katsumoto03]

I feel terrible for laughing, but come on dude...

I imagine Darwin would've liked this one.

 

[Nouw]

He's stupid and had it coming at him.

Still very sad though.

 

[Mr.Numbers]

He was stupid; purposefully riding without a helmet was pretty dumb. But I actually agree with him. The problem with both the helmet and seat belt laws is that the only person at risk is the one not wearing one of the aforementioned equipment. American government is intended to allow freedom, essentially meaning that you can do whatever idiotic thing you want as long as it's not going to hurt someone else, which is why things like murder and theft are illegal but licking a spark plug is not. Laws are not supposed to keep us safe from ourselves, they're supposed to keep us safe from others and others safe from us.

Issue being, sometimes we forget to put on a seatbelt. Or perhaps we lost our helmet. And we end up needing to pay a ticket because we had the audacity to put ourselves, and no one else, at risk, probably just because of forgetfulness or something. I don't see that as in line with the constitution or generally okay on principle for a country that was formed specifically with freedom in mind.

What about the family and friends you leave behind that are affected by your laziness or absent minddedness?

Also there was a darwin award exactly like this a while back, but about a seatbelt advocate instead of helmets.

 

[shedra]

I laughed at this for about two or three minutes. Then I moved on with my day. Fuck him, and fuck everyone else who doesn't want to wear a helmet on a motorcycle. No sympathy at all.