Will Earnhardt's Death Prompt New Legislation?
by Tony Thompson
This just in, following the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona.
Monday, February 19, 2001
" In light of the recent tragic deaths of Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin and now racing legend Dale Earnhardt new attention is being focused on this entire business" said Florida legislator Egar T. Pelize(R) of Coral Grove Fla.
Pelize says in addition to these tragedies there has been a dramatic rise in the number of teen driving fatalities which child pyschologist Imogene Poole says,"can be attributed to a correlating rise in the popularity of Nascar among young people."
"It's no secret that young people have increasingly been drawn to this sport which tells young people that driving fast and popularity go hand in hand. This is a dangerous example for society to set, with all too often tragic results. It's got to stop somewhere."
Poole is joined by Alla Duiz Wein, attorney for MADDR (Mothers of Dead Drivers from Racing) who says his clients are "pushing for Florida's Legislature to enact legislation which would limit attendance at racing events to those over age 21."
Wein added the group also wants to limit the televised airing of racing to "after 10:00 p.m and then carry a rating of R, to alert parents to the dangers of watching racing."
Poole cites several studies which show as she says," A direct correlation between what children percieve as acceptable and what actions they take. It doesn't take a genius to see that the increased popularity of NASCAR and the increasing number of accidents involving young drivers is directly related."
"All too often, when a wrecker brings in car driven by a young driver it will have some racing emblem or decal plastered on the windows or bumperstickers," added Wein.
"Impressionable young drivers are receiving the message that this type of reckless behavior is approved, condoned and encouraged by adult society. Speed limits and driving laws are viewed as simply another form of 'restrictor' plates that 'real' drivers needn't be bothered with. This is an entirely irresponsible message to send to our young people. How many more must die before this menace is reined in? Eventually, society must decide ultimately whether the endorsement of this type of behavior does more harm than good. I can see the day when racing could be illegal. I hope it isn't long in coming." added Poole.
DISCLAIMER:
The above info is fabricated. But it doesn't really sound out of the realm of possibility does it? The moral of this story is that we have so ignored the basic fabric of our constitutional limits on the power of government that anything is now possible. Instead of being allowed to merely grieve at the loss of a legend like Dale Earnhardt, there is the ever present danger of some do-gooder legislator wanting to save us from ourselves. The threat to our liberty unlike the 'dangers of racing' is real and not imagined. It is ever-present and growing.
Alla Duiz Wein= All I do is whine
Imogene Poole= I'm a gene pool
Egar T. Pelize= Eager to please or eager to police depending on your accent
Tony Thompson
