Post by Wyldcomfort on Mar 6, 2007 7:02:32 GMT -5
Hello my friends... we have been very busy and hope to share our results soon. We will have a copy of the entire database for the CPSC by the first of next week... We are still trying to get the spreadsheet from Dr. Mullins report and the information that was used by Ms. Greene and Sen. Devlin in the paper last week. We have just started writing the bill we hope to propose as a group before next session. We have lots of work to do....all of us. We have grown into a wonderful team and are doing much more than we had ever thought we would. I am so proud of all of us. WE are doing great. With regard to Senate Bill 49 it is currently being rewritten. Chances are it will never come out of committee this session but that doesn't mean it is dead. After its rewrite they may pass it through or is could sit through the summer and rear its ugly head next session. My guess is they are hoping we will forget about it and they will sneak it through....I don't think so...... If it seems we have put it on the back burner in some ways we have. The few Senators that haven't committed probable won't with a million more calls. Their number is small but the risk is with a rewrite it could gain a few more Senators' support. I have spoken with most of them and I really don't see that happening. Senator Bates and Devlin should have quit while they were behind....
So this new bill.....the problem we all face is the numbers of fatalities generated by unsupervised kids. Their numbers are our numbers. If we don't address the problem then someone else (Safekids, special interest groups, etc.) will. We have already found that out. But that means all of us who are fighting against Senate Bill 49 have to fight for a new bill that could still impact some of us. Our goal is to keep the family in four-wheeling. How do we find the line? Hopefully you will all be patient with us and know we are doing our very best. Your input in expected - you are part of this team and every decision we make as a group needs to be supported by our group. This means that even if we all can't agree, we must come together with an open mind, true desire, and a bit of compromise to make it the best we can. Not one of us has all the answers but I can guarantee we have the heart.
We need help.... We are also working with the Farm Bureau, Parks and Rec., Rep. Smith, ATVA, and a whole bunch of clubs. This is possible together and I have all the faith in the world that we can do this. We have talked in the past about identifying the problem and being part of the solution. This is where the rubber meets the road. We have played around with some language, even have a rough draft, but now we need input - yours........ This is day one in our worksheet so be patient with us.. if there is something you don't like or it could be worded in a different way - now is the time to speak up.. The problem is unsupervised kids riding without helmets on private and public ground - often two and three to a quad. Of the five I found the other day, none were supervised. Instead of the parents being held responsible, we as a group are.. and being punished... not right and not fair. So, we need to address these three things:
Helmets on public and private (already required on public), Adult supervision on public and private (already on public), Safety training based on best fit for all kids under 16. We would also like to see a better reporting system so we can identify the problems and of course, better enforcement. So what do we want??
I spoke with Nick at the AMA and he said we need to talk to the OMRA - hey guys!!! Do you motorcycle guys want to go together or should we leave motorcycles out for now?? It doesn't seem like you are the biggest target now but that could sure change. At what age can a kid safely operate a motorcycle, would best fit work there too rather than a ban on under age 7 as currently written? I rode a Honda 50 when I was five and seemed to do great but I sure don't know enough to apply it in this case. Please jump in here guys.
With regard to farming only the safety portion would apply. How about you hunters.... should we exclude helmets for under 18 while hunting... Do you actually hunt on an ATV or do you just travel to and from and pack out with it?? This is all stuff we need input on.
I also want to thank ALL the folks who have been working like dogs behind the scene. I have been kicking back eating bon bons while these guys have been working feverishly... and although I don't mind getting all the credit - I sure don't deserve it!! On another note - we had well over 100 adults at the Rally - that isn't counting the million or so kids we had there - and boy were those kids the most well behaved children I have seen in a long time.
Anyone know how the petitions are coming?? Everyone continue to let folks know and keep checking to see if any of these are scheduled. They only give a little heads up and it would be easy to miss it -
I am off to clean my very neglected house for tomorrows interview. I will do my very best to represent all of us well..... Night all!! Lindy
So this new bill.....the problem we all face is the numbers of fatalities generated by unsupervised kids. Their numbers are our numbers. If we don't address the problem then someone else (Safekids, special interest groups, etc.) will. We have already found that out. But that means all of us who are fighting against Senate Bill 49 have to fight for a new bill that could still impact some of us. Our goal is to keep the family in four-wheeling. How do we find the line? Hopefully you will all be patient with us and know we are doing our very best. Your input in expected - you are part of this team and every decision we make as a group needs to be supported by our group. This means that even if we all can't agree, we must come together with an open mind, true desire, and a bit of compromise to make it the best we can. Not one of us has all the answers but I can guarantee we have the heart.
We need help.... We are also working with the Farm Bureau, Parks and Rec., Rep. Smith, ATVA, and a whole bunch of clubs. This is possible together and I have all the faith in the world that we can do this. We have talked in the past about identifying the problem and being part of the solution. This is where the rubber meets the road. We have played around with some language, even have a rough draft, but now we need input - yours........ This is day one in our worksheet so be patient with us.. if there is something you don't like or it could be worded in a different way - now is the time to speak up.. The problem is unsupervised kids riding without helmets on private and public ground - often two and three to a quad. Of the five I found the other day, none were supervised. Instead of the parents being held responsible, we as a group are.. and being punished... not right and not fair. So, we need to address these three things:
Helmets on public and private (already required on public), Adult supervision on public and private (already on public), Safety training based on best fit for all kids under 16. We would also like to see a better reporting system so we can identify the problems and of course, better enforcement. So what do we want??
I spoke with Nick at the AMA and he said we need to talk to the OMRA - hey guys!!! Do you motorcycle guys want to go together or should we leave motorcycles out for now?? It doesn't seem like you are the biggest target now but that could sure change. At what age can a kid safely operate a motorcycle, would best fit work there too rather than a ban on under age 7 as currently written? I rode a Honda 50 when I was five and seemed to do great but I sure don't know enough to apply it in this case. Please jump in here guys.
With regard to farming only the safety portion would apply. How about you hunters.... should we exclude helmets for under 18 while hunting... Do you actually hunt on an ATV or do you just travel to and from and pack out with it?? This is all stuff we need input on.
I also want to thank ALL the folks who have been working like dogs behind the scene. I have been kicking back eating bon bons while these guys have been working feverishly... and although I don't mind getting all the credit - I sure don't deserve it!! On another note - we had well over 100 adults at the Rally - that isn't counting the million or so kids we had there - and boy were those kids the most well behaved children I have seen in a long time.
Anyone know how the petitions are coming?? Everyone continue to let folks know and keep checking to see if any of these are scheduled. They only give a little heads up and it would be easy to miss it -
I am off to clean my very neglected house for tomorrows interview. I will do my very best to represent all of us well..... Night all!! Lindy