Hello, Friends--
Well, the Battle continues--it seems as if some Media Establishments are expressing their intent to assault Freedom Of Choice for adult riders, for whatever private agenda they're pushing, and Eternal Vigilance continues to be the Price of Liberty in our Riding Community. Below, you'll find today's outrageous Anti-Motorcyclist article info published today in the Daily Ardmoreite and Shawnee News-Star newspapers. I'm also including Internet links below to both the Ardmore and Shawnee news websites--there's an area where readers can respond, and you might want to let them know YOUR opinion--espcially after you read the article! Here's an excerpt you'll find particularly infuriating, which underscores that these publications COULDN'T CARE LESS about our "Safety"! It reads as follows: "We've heard the argument for years from bikers who say most motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers. SO WHAT? ..." I find it particularly intriguing that an Ardmore paper has chosen to kick Oklahoma Motorcyclists in the teeth after several years of large-scale Motorcycle Rallies being hosted in that town--Rallies which brought Hundreds of Thousands of DOLLARS to the local economy! Many thanks to Garth from the Iron Riders for bringing this inflammatory article to our attention--we all need to continue to work together as a UNITED Motorcycling Community to defeat whatever threats might confront our Freedom and jeopardize our Rights and Lifestyles. Should this Helmet Law threat again materialize at the State Capitol in 2008, I assure you that ABATE of Oklahoma will be there to meet it head-on, and once again with your help that threat will be crushed! One other thing: you'll probably find it interesting that both the Daily Ardmoreite and Shawnee News-Star are owned and published by the same family...Hmmmm... As I've said before, it's a WAR out there, and we KNOW the Face of the Enemy!
I deeply appreciate all of you out there jumping on the Fox 25 Opinion Poll right away and making your vote count--if for no other purpose than to remind the Media that Bikers have a VOICE! ABATE thanks you for stepping up and taking a stand. Currently, the count is running 90-10 percent in favor of Freedom Of Choice for our state. Incidentally, here are the comments I submitted when I registered my vote and opinion:
"We need to differentiate between the UTILITY of Helmets and the FUTILITY of Helmet Laws! Helmet Laws are NOT about "Safety"-they're about Politics, Money and Control. Special Interest Groups seek to protect their Profit Margins and increase their Political Power Base, and Politicians attach themsleves to Hot-Button Issues to increase their chances of getting Re-Elected--THAT's the reason Helmet Laws materialize! If, God Forbid, we were to pass a Mandatory Helmet Law in our great state eliminating Freedom Of Choice, the carnage in our Riding Community would not decrease. If we're truly concerned about reducing motorcycling deaths and injuries in Oklahoma, we need to educate motorists to Look Out for Motorcyclists and Share the Road; educate ourselves as Riders to Ride Safely, Responsibly, Sober and Aware; and increase penalties for those negligent, irresponsible motorists who just don't care, and who refuse to abide by the rules and laws of the Road!"
I've been asked by several of you out there if the Fox 25 Poll will be up for long. News Media outlets don't usually publish when they're going to pull opinion polls, but they don't keep them up as long when there's an overwhelming opinion one way or another. With sides on this issue not running neck-and-neck (90-10 percent AGAINST Helmet Laws isn't exactly close! LOL), I expect it'll be taken down soon. I hope that the poll results might provide foundation for some truly meaningful dialogue on reducing motorcycling deaths and injuries, which might finally lead to some benificial action--like ultimately providing funding for the state's Rider Education Program! Having ODOT provide billboards statewide urging motorists to Look Out for Motorcyclists would be nice, too. However, I don't expect our media friends (especially those in bed with the long Biker-Unfriendly Daily Oklahoman, or the publications listed below) to depart from their myopic pro-Helmet Law focus anytime soon, for the simple reason that their promoting controversy helps promote profits. Hence, "If It Bleeds, It Leads!" Thanks for listening, Ride Free and Safely, and don't hesitate to contact both of these publications to register your defense of Freedom Of Choice for adult riders in Oklahoma!
Yours in Liberty,
Tiger Mike
ABATE of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Confederation Of Clubs
"Rights Undefended are Rights Lost; Rights Lost might NEVER be Regained!"
Here is the link to the Daily Ardmoreite article:
http://ardmoreite.com/stories/080807/opinion_43689.shtml Here's the link to the original op-ed in the News-Star:
http://news-star.com/stories/072907/opi_51345.shtmlState's motorcyclists should be required to wear a helmet
Web posted August 8, 2007
Oklahoma needs a helmet law, and it should be sooner rather than later. It's long overdue.
Legislation should be introduced for the 2008 session, requiring anyone who operates or rides on a motorcycle to wear some kind of helmet or protective head gear. According to state law, only those under 18 currently are required to don a helmet when climbing on a motorcycle.
It makes sense that a helmet will provide protection, and it will save lives. ...
Legislation making it mandatory for those 18 and older will cause a stir, however. Major opposition will come from bikers, who probably will storm the state capitol to oppose any attempts to infringe upon their "individual rights." They will view it as just more government intrusion.
To that, we say "hogwash." It's no more infringing on their rights than the safety belt law approved by lawmakers a number of years ago. Wearing a safety belt, just like wearing a helmet, saves lives.
Various legislative attempts have been made throughout the years to require all motorcyclists to wear helmets. But lawmakers have balked because of the vigorous protests by individual bikers and biker groups which have joined forces to defeat any of those laws. ...
We've heard the argument for years from bikers who say most motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers. So what? ...
Motorcycles provide little protection for those who operate and are passengers on them.
Requiring helmets for all motorcyclists may not be popular, but it will save many lives and lessen certain types of serious injuries to others.
The Shawnee News-Star
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