Two US Lawmakers Want to Revoke Motorcycle Helmet Laws For People They Don't Represent

Rules for thee, not for me.

Photo by: Sena

By: Jonathon Klein

Aug 12, at 8:55am ET

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Honestly, I shouldn't be surprised by anything going on in U.S. politics these days. I mean, the two-party system is a failure, and the folks who supposedly represent the American people only represent themselves, their donors, and however they can grandstand in the realm of social media to make themselves stars of their own little social media fiefdoms. It's all just ridiculous.

Yet, despite knowing all that, as well as consuming far too much of the internet on a daily basis, there are times even I am surprised by the sheer brazen stupidity and insanity of our elected officials. Mostly based on how inane many of their actions are. I mean, don't you all have better things to do? What am I talking about, you ask?

Well, two Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that would revoke mandatory motorcycle helmet laws for the constituents of Washington D.C., a place that they don't represent. No, one's from Wisconsin, the other from Montana, one of which where helmets are required.

You'd think they'd start in their home states if they really believed people deserved the right to choose, huh?

According to The Washington Post, Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin) and Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), introduced bills into both the House and Senate that would repeal Washington D.C.'s mandatory helmet laws for those riding motorcycles. Both officials say that helmet laws are too draconian and that it should be up to the people to decide how best to protect themselves, not the federal government.

While I agree to a certain point, where I don't is that when you get into an accident with another person, it doesn't just affect you anymore. We live in a society where there are repercussions when others are involved, and that's something you can't control. Plus, helmets save lives. They keep your head intact and your brains working. Ask me how I know...

Called the "Ride in Freedom Act," the aim is to repeal D.C.'s law, then use it as the basis to go after other states with similar laws regarding motorcycle helmets—states' rights be damned. Speaking to The Post, Van Orden's spokesperson, Grace Kim, said, "D.C. is an important place to start. If Congress can change the policy here, it opens the door to having a larger conversation about the federal government’s role in helmet mandates across the country." And that's the goal. Repeal it in D.C., repeal it everywhere, and reduce the safety of everyone on the road, most of all motorcyclists.

We've repeatedly seen what happens when states have repealed their motorcycle helmet laws, in that deaths and serious injuries, along with hospital care, have all shot up. And not by a little, by a lot, and almost immediately afterward. Helmet laws go away, dead riders become more common. I know that's abrasive, but it's the truth. And we, the taxpayer, as well as those around the rider injured or killed, foot the bill, both in terms of hard dollars, as well as in the emotional toll of seing some idiot squid get yeeted into the back of a Suburban and their head exploding into a billion squishy pieces.

You're not in a vacuum. You're not alone on the road. I'd rather not see you die, nor cover your hospital stay when you become a vegetable.

What do you think?

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But again, both Van Orden and Sheehy don't even—technically—represent the people of Washington D.C.. They're reps from Wisconsin and Montana, both of which have helmet laws on the books. Montana requires everyone with an M endorsement, as well as passengers, to wear a helmet. And Wisconsin requires anyone under 18 to wear one, too. But despite not being all that populated with riders, Wisconsin recorded 102 deaths in 2024, along with 1,800 serious injuries. That puts it up near the top of all U.S. states.

So if they're really concerned about laws limiting "mu freedoms!," why not start in their home states? Why not push for even kids not to wear helmets? Why not push to kill seatbelts? Why not push to kill the need for clean tap water? Or clean air? Why stop there? Don't you both have better things to do? They do, they just don't care.