Seatbelt bill hits bump in the road

[georgesbluegirl]

I'm actually agreeing with you about seatbelt laws. What I was referring to is the fact that children should be required to be helmeted, buckled, etc. There are more cars now. It's more unsafe for those precautions to be ignored, and that should be codified for minors. Adults are free to be dumb.

[georgesbluegirl]

Like I said, more cars on the road. Regardless, I agree on principle, as I said before, with repealing seatbelt law. As far as "spiting" the law, though....that's carrying it a bit far. Why put yourself in danger just because you don't agree with a driving regulation? I do, however, think there are more important personal liberties being threatened these days. Wiretaps, anyone?

[Scarletprayers]

I'm actually agreeing with you about seatbelt laws. What I was referring to is the fact that children should be required to be helmeted, buckled, etc. There are more cars now. It's more unsafe for those precautions to be ignored, and that should be codified for minors. Adults are free to be dumb.

ooops, my bad...........sorry!

[buckthesystem]

Butero, I have a question that I have wondered for a long time: Your quote: "As I stated, as a Christian, I believe we need to obey the laws of the land, and so I try to comply, but if I had my way, much of these regulations would be done away with"says it all.

I have often seen this (in one wording or another, and by different people) but I am just wondering why! I am not being facetious, this is a genuine question: Why is there an obligation on Christians to "obey the laws of the land" even if they are totally illogical and designed solely to prove that we are stupid enough to "give in to blackmail" and look really silly or pay for it "bigtime"?

Surely as Christians we have an obligation to be able to think for ourselves?

[Marnie]

Surely as Christians we have an obligation to be able to think for ourselves?

This is actually a question I asked Dr. Walter Williams one time. I have posted some of his articles here in the past; he is a great spokesman for liberty in my mind. I recall asking him about our obligations to abide by laws which are non-nonsensical and why we must obey the dictates of a government that has overstepped its Constitutional bounds. What he said was basically this, and he used income tax as an example. Income tax as we now know it in America is not Constitutional insofar as each citizen being required to pay it. With that in mind, a liberty-loving citizen should have a Constitutional right to NOT pay his taxes. But, Williams says, if you go down that road you must be prepared to face the consequences: the government will come and take your house--your "private property." They will trespass, gun in hand, to steal from you what you rightfully own. Since you have a Constitutional right to private property and to bear arms, you will defend yourself and, if it goes far enough, the government will "shoot you dead."

Now, this is an extreme example but goes to the point of your question. Certainly we may scoff at the silliness of seatbelt laws, infant seat laws and the like, but if you are going to disobey them, you must be prepared to suffer the consequences--fines, jail time, etc. It's the price you pay for living in a "free" society. lol That makes me laugh, "free society," indeed. Try withholding your property tax payment or not paying the inspection fee for your car and see how much "freedom" you really have. Thomas Jefferson is spinning in his grave. How far we have fallen in just two centuries.

[apothanein kerdos]

I can see the benefit of mandatory seatbelt laws as they pertain to children. And maybe that's the real reason it's mandatory for all occupants of vehicles now. It's just safer if it's required.

But the problem is that these kinds of laws are designed in such a way that they infringe upon my personal liberties. In our state they are running commercials that say, "click it or ticket." And there are signs on the side of the roads and even billboards that warn drivers not to forget to wear their seatbelts. It's overkill. My tax dollars are funding that program here.

There are traffic laws regarding running red lights, for speeding, and for jaywalking. Each of those situations involve other people. If I run a red light I could hit someone. If I drive too fast I increase the risk of crashing into another person. If I jaywalk I might cause someone to swerve to avoid me and hit a poll, or another person. But whether I wear a seatbelt or not does not affect another driver, and does not place anyone else (Other than myself) in harm's way.

Every time one of those commercials comes on, I get pretty furious. They have pumped millions of dollars into a campaign about buckling your seatbelt when you drive.

How about pumping millions of dollars into stopping drunk drivers? That, to me, would seem quite a bit more beneficial.

As for kids wearing safety gear when riding a bike - when I was learning to ride a bike, I didn't have anything. I fell down quite a bit and received multiple scrapes. My brother even had his leg broken in a bike accident at seven. Guess what - we're both healthy adults now.

At the same time, I think it is prudent to put a helmet on your child. It shouldn't be a law, but as parents, I think it would be wise to do so...or to wear a helmet yourself.

[Marnie]

At the same time, I think it is prudent to put a helmet on your child. It shouldn't be a law, but as parents, I think it would be wise to do so...or to wear a helmet yourself.