Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Grow up, wear a helmet

State Sen. Sharon Brown wants to make motorcycle helmets optional (Jan. 30 article). She is another clueless legislator, thinking some fools’ “personal freedom” should impinge upon safety and medical costs for all citizens. We don’t just have manufacturing safety laws for cars and motorcycles, we have seatbelt and helmet laws. They matter.

A minimum of a three-quarters helmet is needed. Yes, not all riders are “big burly men” as Micki Robinson states, yet I could find a legal helmet that fit me, and I’m not a big guy.

Folks have died at anti-helmet rallies. Folks such as Philip Contos, who won the Darwin Award in 2011. Those are middle-aged folks who feel freedom must mean not thinking. They’re just as wrong as the folks who argue against seat belt laws.

You’re supposed to be a grown-up. Wear a helmet.

David Teich

Spokane Valley

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy