"No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."--U.S. Constitution, Amendment XIV, Section 1


Fellow Freedom Fighters:

Montana State Representative Betsy Hands and Montana State Senator Lynda Moss are continuing to sponsor Draft Bill LC1683, a mandatory motorcycle helmet law:

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/lchtml/LC1683.htm

Mandatory helmet laws like this one clearly demonstrate how "good intentions often lead to bad legislation". ABATE of Montana has asked us to continue to flood their offices with letters, calls and emails protesting this bill, which is discriminatorily unconstitutional in that--by mandating helmets for motorcyclists as opposed to all motorists--it would violate the "equal protection" guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Here is their contact information:

Betsy Hands (D)
1337 SHERWOOD ST
MISSOULA, MT 59802-2301
Home: 406-721-3881
Email: BETSYHANDS@GMAIL.COM
Web: http://tinyurl.com/2zeb7s (with photo)

Lynda Moss (D)
552 HIGHLAND PARK DR
BILLINGS, MT 59102-1046
Home: 406-252-7318
Email: LYNDAMOSS@IMT.NET
Web: http://tinyurl.com/26gebv (with photo)

Email addresses for them and the Montana Senate and House Leadership are as follows:

BETSYHANDS@GMAIL.COM
LYNDAMOSS@IMT.NET

COONEYEMAIL@AOL.COM
DANWHARRINGTON@IN-TCH.COM
CWILLIAMS@MONTANADSL.NET
LLSD22@YAHOO.COM
COREYSTAPLETON@BRESNAN.NET
GBARKUS@DADCO.COM
SCOTTSALESHD68@EARTHLINK.NET
grt3177@smtel.com
MLANGE6@HOTMAIL.COM
tmcgillvray@bresnan.net
GARYMACLAREN@YAHOO.COM
PARKMONT@HOTMAIL.COM
BERGREN@BOBBERGREN.COM
MCAMPBELLHD31@YAHOO.COM
MCDAVE94@HOTMAIL.COM
DANVILLAFORMONTANA@HOTMAIL.COM

To automatically load these email addresses into a new email window, click here:

http://www.ldrlongdistancerider.com/KeepMontanaFree.html

Remember that this issue here is NOT "helmets", the issue is "helmet laws". As a distance rider, I often wear a helmet. But as an American citizen, I should be free to choose when and where I strap one on. This is not about SAFETY ... this is about FREEDOM. So even if you have responded to this call-to-action before, PLEASE RESPOND AGAIN. And even if you have forwarded this call-to-action before, PLEASE FORWARD IT AGAIN.

Ride Long, Ride Free!

Bruce Arnold

Bruce@LdrLongDistanceRider.com

________________________________

From: Linda Baldwin [mailto:libaldwin@midrivers.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:59 PM
Subject: Draft Bill LC 1683 - There is movement on this ABATE NEEDS your help!


Hello Everyone: Call to Action:

We have action on LC 1683...the Mandatory Motorcycle/Quadricycle Bill. Please read below...and start calling, E-mailing, writing those letters again. As Jill Z. told us...use the same letter you wrote last time, just make sure that Betsy Hands and Lynda Moss are bombarded with mail and phone calls.

Thanks for your immediate action on this E-mail.
Linda


Bill Actions - Current Bill Progress: In Drafting Process

Bill Action Count: 16


Action - Most Recent First Date Votes Yes Votes No Committee
(C) Draft Delivered to Requester 01/31/2007
(C) Draft Ready for Delivery 01/03/2007
(C) Draft in Assembly/Executive Director Review 01/02/2007
(C) Draft in Final Drafter Review 01/02/2007
(C) Bill Draft Text Available Electronically 01/02/2007
(C) Draft in Input/Proofing 01/02/2007
(C) Draft to Drafter - Edit Review [CMD] 01/02/2007
(C) Draft in Edit 01/02/2007