California Governor: ‘Not Every Human Problem Deserves A Law’
After a bipartisan bill passed the state legislature that would have imposed a $25 fine for kids who ski or snowboard without a helmet, he vetoed it. Here’s his explanation:
To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 105 without my signature.
This measure would impose criminal penalties on a child under the age of 18 and his or her parents if the child skis or snowboards without a helmet.
While I appreciate the value of wearing a ski helmet, I am concerned about the continuing and seemingly inexorable transfer of authority from parents to the state. Not every human problem deserves a law.
I believe parents have the ability and responsibility to make good choices for their children.
Sincerely,
Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Way to go, Governor! Helmets can be a good idea but parenting is the job of the parent, not the state.