Despite my difference with ABATE on the need to repeal helmet laws, this is the kind of stupidity that has caused me to join and become active in CMT/ABATE:
Two bills before the TN legislature would make it (1) illegal for anyone under 10 to be on a motorcycle anywhere in the state (that is, on private property, on a motocross track, whatever) (2) illegal for anyone under nine ot be carried on a motorcycle (including a trike, whatever).
These laws don't acutally seem to address any concerns that have been raised, there appears to be only 1 fatality in the past 5-12 years (depending on which report you read) so who is wasting time doing this. I guess the AMA national finals at Loretta Lynn's will be axed, and the rural family sport of motocross is not the kind of family values the legislature has in mind.
Whether you belong to an ABATE organization, or the MRF, of not, you need to know what your legislature is doing and spend a few minutes letting them know how you feel on the issues.
For those of you in TN, if you'd like to know more about CMT/ABATE, see
http://www.cmtabate.com/