Imagine Peter Fonda riding his chopper down an open stretch of highway in 1969, his hair blowing in the breeze across the collar of his black leather jacket; his red, white and blue helmet riding passenger on the seat-post behind him.
With Spring poking its head eagerly around the corner, it's easy to realize that soon enough the sun will be shining down brightly, the trees will have budded bright and colorful leaves, and the sound of high octane motorcycle engines will once again dominate the roadways.
Interstates and highways across the country will be teeming with pulled back pony-tails flailing in the breeze, men and women everywhere living out thier rebel-set dreams on a long stretch of blacktop, that is unless they are riding through the Good Life State.
Once again, Nebraska Legislative Bill 200, a proposal that would repeal the state's mandatory helmet law for riders 21 and over, failed to reach the amount of votes needed for repeal, thus creating yet another setback for cyclists seeking the freedom to ride their bikes with thier hair dancing in the breeze behind them.
Thursday, February 11 marked the fourth time in the last two decades that repeal measures have reached the full Legislature since the helmet requirement was reinstated in 1989.
The day also marks the fourth time in as many tries that the efforts have been for none, as the Legislature recieved 27 of the 33 votes needed in order to repeal the law.
Don't voters realize that 30 out of 50 states can't be wrong. Not to mention the fact that repealing the law would bring in much needed business and tax dollars that go elsewhere because of our helmet law.
Sturgis, SD has made a name for itself as the Biker Capital of the World, with people coming from all over for it's annual summer festival, which come August will be celebrating its 70th year in exhistence.
Many riders bypass our state, opting to go around rather than through it, because we have taken away their free will in choosing whether or not to wear a helmet.
So what ever happened to this supposed "Land of the Free" we are living in?
Aren't there more pressing matters at hand, or do we really need to deny someones right of free will and choice?
We live in a state wherein upon reaching the age of 21, individuals have the right to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and abort a child if they so deem it necessary to upholding a conventional lifestyle, so why is it such a big deal if someone of the same age wants to ride a motorcycle without a helmet?
It is not so much a question of safety as it is one of control. Perhaps Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha said it best when he questioned, "Whose rights do we trample on next?"
Watch out mall-walkers, your time could be coming very soon.
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