From: behanna@phoenix.syl.nj.nec.com (Chris BeHanna)
Subject: Helmet Law Letters from _Easyriders_
Followup-To: rec.motorcycles
Summary: Don't let it happen!
Keywords: Ride Free
Reply-To: behanna@syl.nj.nec.com
Organization: NEC Systems Laboratory, Inc.
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 92 03:44:57 GMT

	Okay, okay, I know what some of your opinions are about _Easyriders_
magazine, but they do have a lot of information in there about bikers's
rights.  Here's some of it:

From the February, 1992 _Easyriders_, "Wordmonger," pp. 6-7:

Helmet Response

o Jeff Zastrow's letter in the December issue encouraging California bikers to
quit riding for one year to pressure the legislature into repealing the helmet
law due to loss of revenues is not only ludicrous, but it's playing right
into the hands of our opposition.

        Those of us who've been fighting for bikers' rights know that there is
a hidden agenda to get motorcycles off the road.  The insurance industry is a
major proponent of helmet laws, not because helmets provide the rider any
degree of protection, but because helmet laws result in fewer motorcyclists.

        Weekend warriors and posers will cease to ride.  The _un_-rider will
become a _non_-rider.  New bike sales dropped 40 percent in Nebraska and 35
percent in Oregon after helmet laws were enacted.  Nationally, there are 50
percent fewer riders per capita in helmet law states.

        Insurance companies know their insured car drivers are at fault in
more than two-thirds of the motorcycle accidents and that 85 percent of those
unfortunate riders incur treatable injuries--translating into mega-buck
losses for the insurance industry.  Since nothing can be done to prevent
drivers from hitting us, the next best solution is to remove the targets (us).

        Furthermore, ABATE, Bikers Against Manslaughter (BAM), and the
California Motorcyclists Association have already provided legislators with
documented evidence that a helmet law could cost California $13 million in
lost registration fees, a $9 million loss in sales tax collections, and
millions more in lost corporate taxes, gas taxes, and other motorcycle
industry shortfalls.  Don't bother giving up riding for a year to prove a
point because our legislature couldn't care less.

        Those who would quit riding because of the inconvenience of a helmet
are not real bikers anyway.  _Real_ bikers will fasten their chin straps and
pledge an oath to join the rest of us in fighting to regain our lost freedom.

                                               Bill Bish, National Director
                                               BAM
                                               Los Angeles, Calif.

o Just saw something about the helmet law in issue #220.  You must all stand
together!  In Britain we face an all0out ban on custom bikes--nothing on the
road.  To try to stop this lunacy, all bikers have joined together, be they
vintage bikers, little two-strokes, Jap riders, or the full-fledged hard-arse
on his Harley.  It doesn't matter--a biker is a biker, whatever he rides.

        Do not allow yourselves to be driven into the ground by a bunch of
dumb-fuck, half-witted politicians who think they know what is best.

                                               Daylon Nelder
                                               Great Britain

EDUCATION, not legislation,
-- 
Chris BeHanna	DoD# 114  KotHLF    1983 H-D FXWG Wide Glide (She lives!)
behanna@syl.nj.nec.com	            (I need another bike for this space!)

Disclaimer:  Now why would NEC agree with any of this anyway?