Here We Go Again

More tragedy struck when another innocent person died from an accident.  An 11-year old girl was killed when the ATV she was riding flipped over and crushed her to death, in Indiana.

Clearly her mother was distraught, to the point of leading an effort to make the world safer for everyone else.  In other words, she stuck her nose in the rest of America’s private business.

She fought hard, according to the newspaper article, but finally got a bill passed to dictate all ATV riders under the age of 18 must wear a helmet, both on public and private land.

Pretty noble, indeed. But also pretty intrusive.

Once known as “the land of the free,” America was built on taking risks and being adventuresome.

Today, however, this mother feels she knows better than everyone else on how to parent.  She’s wrong.

Everyday, people jump out of airplanes to skydive, they swim with sharks, they mountain climb, they drive racecars, tame lions, and walk tightropes.  Yet this buttinsky doesn’t feel the need to help save the lives of these aforementioned thrill-seekers.  No, she wants to target other people’s kids because she wants to take “positive action.”

While this all seems pretty harmless, it is intrusive.  Likely out of a necessity to self-heal for her loss, she now wants to save people’s lives.

In case you hadn’t noticed, her daughter tragically died on the ATV this mother bought her. 

It is noble for her to try and save innocent lives but, why not simply encourage others – rather than creating a law to be followed – which would allow for more continued freedom for others?

More than 30 children drown in five-gallon buckets each year.  Why not force a screen to be placed over each plastic pail?

Kids die from falling down stairs, being struck by cars, and baking in side hot vehicles, regularly.  Once again, where’s the outrage and positive action needed to prevent another child from dying.

Using activism as a therapy is terrific, if only to make suggestions.  To enact legislation to limit liberties of everyone borders on criminal.

Sure, this mom feels good but, the balance of ATV riders in Indiana are certainly feeling imposed upon.

We cannot ensure the absolute safety and well-being of everyone in America.  Chances are taken just climbing over the side of a bathtub.  Tainted food can be of a concern, and ladders are merely an accident-waiting-to-happen.

To that end, I’d like to say, “Sorry about your personal loss.  And I’m sorry you feel you are so much more capable to run my life than me.  Now, you need to stop shoving your ideas down the throats of strangers and get on with your own life.”