NANNY-STATE WATCH

Democrats now outlawing Cool

Skatboarders, Rollerbladers, Bikers, and even Scooterers, will all be required to wear helmets that pass state inspection if a bill under consideration in the Colorado legislature gets passed this month.

From ABC 7 News, Denver:

Colorado lawmakers are considering legislation to require helmet use for all kids younger than 18. Kids would be required to wear a helmet on bicycles, scooters, skateboards or any other non-motorized device with wheels... Violators would be given an educational card that explains the risk of not wearing a helmet and where to find a free or low-cost helmet.

The legislation is sponsored by two liberal Democrats, both from Fort Collins.

From BikeMonkey:

“I will pursue any legislation in order to protect children as best I can,” says Colorado state senator Bob Bacon of Fort Collins. To that end, Senator Bacon and Represenative John Kefalas (also of Ft Collins) are sponsoring legislation to mandate helmet use for children under age 18

Libertarians in the State are mounting an opposition. Colorado Libertarian Party Chairman Dave Williams was quoted:

"It's kind of humorous, in that you're going to have cops handing out little safety cards to kids... Whose responsibility is that? It's the parents’ responsibility, and the government is going to spend taxpayer money to do something here that isn't going to have any real benefit?" Williams said.

Governor-run health care may be the primary motivation. From the legislation:

Colorado has an interest in preventing and mitigating the severity of such injuries as the economic cost to an individual and to society of a single severe nonfatal brain injury can exceed $2 Million.