JUNE 2009

Senate Bill 2505 came across my computer like a tornado across the panhandle a few weeks ago. I turned on my computer one day and went to my e-mail program. Once the inbox came up it was filled with e-mail after e-mail concerning Senate Bill 2505.

From what I have read and figured out from the internet, NFR bareback rider Chris Harris' dad is a state senator from the Dallas area and is the author of a bill designed to make it a legal requirement that all persons under the age of 18 in the State of Texas be required to wear a protective helmet and vest in the bull riding. This would apply to practice as well as sanctioned and unsanctioned rodeos.

What's wrong with this? The problem came about when people first started hearing about this bill and the "supposed" original wording of the bill. If you "google" Senate Bill 2505 you can pull up a copy of the bill. The bill reads that all rodeo participants be required to wear rodeo helmets and the bull riding be required to wear protective vests also. The bill has supposedly been revised to only affect the bull riding event. Supposedly!

This is one of those "good ideas, gone bad" kind of like when I get off my riding mower and the motor goes dead. Nothing makes me madder than to have get back on the mower and re-crank it just because I had to move a water hose or something. But because some dummy got off the mower while it was moving and ran over himself, they had to pass a law that requires all mowers to go dead if no-one is sitting in the seat.

I hate to sound like a bleeding heart liberal, but this sounds like a good idea. No-one gets off their mower and runs over their kid by mistake. I bet everyone reading this article knows of someone that has had a horse related accident involving a head related trauma. I'm just as guilty as the next guy. I let my kid ride the 4-wheeler without a helmet. I spend most of my time driving without my seatbelt buckled. I'm even guilty of disconnecting the wire under the seat that makes that dang bell quit ringing when you're driving without a seat belt. A great idea in theory was the seat belt law, but try driving around the ranch opening and closing gates and listening to the bell.

The problem with this law is just like every other law that has ever been made. The lawmakers don't ask anyone else what they think! This is America and we have the right to revolt. Our country was founded on revolt and I'll be danged if the people in charge now aren't 1,000 times worse than the King of England ever thought about being.

I could be so far out of the loop that I had never heard of this bill until it crossed my inbox that day. I really doubt it! A bill that will affect this many people in a state like Texas should be taken to the people. Isn't rodeo the official sport of Texas?

I know the idea was to protect the kids in rodeo competition. What are they protecting them from? Are they protecting them from the bull, the chute, the fence or the crazy parents? I know some people that can just look at a bull in the chute and start limping. You could ride a bull in a titanium medevial knights suit and still get hurt by the bull. Like anything else in life safety is taught not legislated. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. The old 3-wheelers didn't hurt people, the dumbbutts I used to ride with hurt people.

I'll guarantee you I could be wearing a vest and helmet tomorrow and because I don't have a clue what I'm doing, a bull ride would pretty much do me in.

Helmet and vest, great idea. Making a law to enforce me wearing a helmet and vest, maybe not so bad. Making that law without input from those affected, really bad idea.

Maybe a better idea would be a certification from the youth organizations from a "bull riding safety course." A little mini clinic that you have to attend on a Saturday that teaches you how to be safe riding bulls. We've got the same thing for young hunters. They don't make hunters under 18 wear bullet proof vests. They teach them how to handle guns and to hunt with safety as the main component of a successful hunt.

This will not be the last you hear of this. This is by no means an answer to this problem, but like all problems input is always a good thing, input your two cents.