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IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Support the Current South Carolina Helmet Law RallyCharleston -- ABATE of South Carolina will hold their annual Helmet Law Support Rally on Sunday, October 8, 2006 in Columbia, South Carolina. ABATE of South Carolina supports South Carolina’s current helmet law, which respects the rights of adults at least twenty-one years to make personal decisions for themselves. Motorcyclists from across South Carolina will begin gathering at the Triple Crown Restaurant located at 103 North 12th St., West Columbia, at noontime. The police escorted parade of all makes and models of motorcycles will depart the Triple Crown Restaurant promptly at 1:00pm and make its way to the Statehouse where the rally participants will fill the steps of the State Capitol to show their unity and strength. ABATE members and other guest speakers will address the crowd and encourage motorcyclists from across the state to remain vigilant and prepared to defend their rights against those that want to change the current helmet law. “We do not believe it is coincidental that so much media attention has been given recently to the interpretation of motorcycle fatality statistics in South Carolina,” says Ed Haas, ABATE of South Carolina Media Coordinator. “It’s the same misinformation process that was employed to gain public support for the passage of the primary enforcement seatbelt law – a law that should be repealed regardless of perceived effectiveness. The number of “lives saved” promised if primary enforcement passed, have not materialized. At one point, supporters of this law mislead the public by claiming that it would save 300 lives a year. Fatality statistics for 2006 clearly indicate that that’s not going to happen. In fact, if any reduction in fatalities this year can be directly attributed to the primary enforcement seatbelt law, the number will be small enough to argue that those same lives could have been saved through education – not legislation. Instead, tens of thousands of motorists have been intruded upon, criminalized, and fined (taxed) in South Carolina via seatbelt tickets - all in the name of “saving lives”. “ABATE of South Carolina understands that the same people responsible for the totalitarian seatbelt law are also conspiring to change the state’s current helmet law”, continues Haas. “We know who they are and the methodologies they employ. Unfortunately, these “safety nannies” have yet to learn and respect the fact that personal decisions regarding safe motorcycle operation should and will remain with the motorcyclists of South Carolina.” Representatives of ABATE of SC will be available at the Statehouse to discuss these and other motorcycle-related issues, as well as the consequences of totalitarian enactments, with the media. ### ABATE of South Carolina is a State Motorcyclists Rights Organization dedicated to defending the rights of all motorcyclists who choose to ride in South Carolina. ABATE of South Carolina also encourages all motorcyclists to register to vote and become active in the political process. ABATE encourages motorcyclists to voluntarily obtain motorcycle rider training. Many members of ABATE are involved in a variety of charitable organizations and take great pride in being active members of their communities. Learn more about ABATE at www.abatesc.com |
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