Try an open mind. I know that liberals have a hard time with that idea but, for once, let the facts interfer with your thinking.

Giving any additional power to government is not in ay one's interest except theirs. Regulation is like taxes and bureaucracys. Once put in place, they never go away and just get bigger. They are self perpetuating for their own interests, not yours!

Not only is the helmet law over reach, so are the seat belt laws. They need to go away also.

Also, death in a motorcycle accident while not wearing a helmet is no more suicide than death from heat damage to one's lung during a house fire without a smoke detector. Safety equipment may have helped prevent injury or death, but by no means is it a suicide.

It is my opinion that the author clearly states that his "value of life" is in expression of freedoms and enjoyment without risk to others rather than longevity.

I respect and support your freedom of speech to express your opinion. I do not have to agree with it. Governments (ordinarily) pass legislation which is intended to have positive outcomes, be they reductions in medical care costs, safety standards for vehicle design and traffic controls to promote the safety of all road users.

Legislation mandating motorcyclists to wear helmets on public highways is not intended as a removal of your rights and freedoms to behave as a death waiting to happen. Your value of life appears to be lower than most. Collisions often result in multiple injuries to the people involved not just your own. The argument that guns do not kill but gun users do, applies to vehicles. They are not designed to kill but when driven recklessly, they too can be part of the killing process. Would you and/or your peers think more of you if you removed the brakes on your bike? I expect not.

Everyone has equal opportunities to take risks of ignoring legislated rules and regulations like exceeding speed limits, DUI, etc.. If you get caught breaking a law, you must pay the sanctioned penalty or do time etc.

I have no wish for you to die by exercising your free will. I do however, wish that you consider all the people who will be affected by your suicide. "If only she/he had been wearing a crash helmet" is a pathetic obituary for any person and underscores her/his low self-esteem, low self-worth and selfish disregard for those family and friends left behind who are forced to live with their loss.

Professional drivers learn that accidents rarely occur – like a spooked deer running out in front of you – what happens are avoidable collisions. Similarly, your insurance and healthcare companies are likely to decide that your disregard for the law is sufficient cause to revoke your coverage.

Whatever you do is your choice and I hope that as you grow older, you learn the value of your unique life and take all available precautions to keep it safe.

Ride safely and not faster than your guardian angel can fly.
j