Who is buying and selling your freedom?
Many bikers in South Carolina take the right to ride lidless for granted. Thirty
one years ago ABATE began a battle that took six years to win and amend the
helmet law to allow adult freedom of choice. Now other groups are raising money
and using lobbyists in an effort to remove adult freedom of choice in South
Carolina. The coalition that worked hard to pass the primary seat belt law in
South Carolina is now targeting our current helmet law with the intent to remove
adult freedom of choice. The name of this coalition is Advocates for Highway
and Auto Safety or AHAS.
Now that the primary seat belt bill has been passed into law in South Carolina
an "All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law" tops the agenda of AHAS. You
do not have to take my word; visit the AHAS web site saferoads.org and see for
yourself.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of insurance companies
with health and safety groups working together to encourage the adoption of
federal and state laws. Some of these groups get funding from the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration; NHTSA found a loophole in their ban from lobbying
in state houses by paying others to do the dirty work. Not only are our taxes
being used to lobby against our rights but some of the seemingly innocent medical
charities funded by poker runs are spending money raised from bikers to lobby
against bikers.
You may wish to study these following lists of insurance companies and organizations;
we can choose to take our business elsewhere and not support their poker runs
cloaked as charity events. State Farm Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance
Company, Liberty Mutual Group, Nationwide Insurance, Unitrin, and USAA provide
the finical support behind AHAS. The actual lobbying is performed by a coalition
of safety nannies including: American College of Emergency Physicians, American
Public Health Association, Center for Auto Safety, Consumer Federation of America,
Emergency Nurses Association, KIDS AND CARS, Mothers Against Drunk Driving,
Police Foundation, Public Citizen, Trauma Foundation, and Whirlwind Wheelchair
International.
ABATE of South Carolina will host the annual Helmet Law Rally supporting our
state's current helmet law allowing adult freedom of choice on October 9th.
The Flying Saucer will host the after rally party immediately following the
rally at the capitol steps. DB Bryant will provide live entertainment from 2
until 6. Come join in the brotherhood and join ABATE. Visit abatesc.com/events
for more information as the SC Freedom of Choice Helmet Rally approaches. Last
year over 1,000 bikers rode in the police escorted parade to the capitol.
FastFred Ruddock
ABATE of SC State Coordinator
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