OUR VIEWPOINT EDITORIAL
For children’s sake, booster-seat bill should become law
One bill currently making its way through the Arizona Legislature makes a lot of sense.
House Bill 2154, sponsored by Rep. Nancy McLain, R-Bullhead City, would require children between the ages of 5 and 8 who are shorter than 4 feet, 9 inches to ride in a booster seat when in an automobile. Arizona is one of only three states that don’t have such a booster-seat requirement.
McLain introduced the bill because adult seat belts can injure children. Booster seats would raise the child to a height that would make the seat belts fi t them more properly and reduce the risk of serious internal injuries. Booster seats help prevent a smaller child from slipping down, thus putting the seat belt on his or her abdomen during an accident, Dr. David Notrica, trauma medical director at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, told the House Transportation committee. When that happens, the child can end up with serious internal injuries and/or spinal cord damage. The National Transportation Safety Board recommends booster seats for children. However, although similar bills have been introduced in the Arizona Legislature in the past, McLain’s bill is the only one to have been approved by the House. “It’s not an issue of the nanny state coming in and telling parents that they must restrain their child. That’s already in law,” she said in an article written by a reporter for the Cronkite News service. “We’re just telling them that the way we told them to do it before is incorrect.” In the same article, McLain cited Arizona Department of Health Services data showing that of the nine accident fatalities in 2009 involving children between the ages of 5 and 8, seven involved children who weren’t in booster seats. In 2010, all fi ve such fatalities involved children who weren’t in booster seats, she said. The bill still has its opponents.
Sen. Rich Crandall, R-Mesa, said booster seats might be too much of an inconvenience for families.
“It’s diffi cult enough with the infant seat,” he said. “This will allow neighbors to say, ‘Well no, I can’t pick your kids up from school or take them to dance practice because I don’t have an extra booster seat in my car.’” The matter of children’s safety shouldn’t be determined by “convenience.” The children themselves have no say. If their parents are more concerned with “convenience” than safety, it’s time for the state to step in. We agree with House Transportation Committee
Chairman Vic Williams, R-Tucson, who said, “This is a role government needs to play a part in.” For children’s sake, this is a bill that should be passed
into law.
Our Viewpoint editorials represent the opinions of the West Valley View editorial board, which is composed of Publisher Elliott Freireich, Managing Editor Jim Painter and News Editor Cary Hines.
MORGAN’S OPINION — West Valley View
OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
spelling, punctuation or grammar are those of the author. Two online reader polls have indicated that a majority of View readers prefer that the letters not be edited.
L The facts
on Keystone Editor:
In response to Gordon Posner (March 13) Facts on Keystone Pipeline: (from the TransCanada website) As far as job creation: “20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs” (not infl ated as you say), pri- vate sector investment of 20 billion into the US economy, and more than 585 million for states and communities along the pipeline. So, when I look at Obama’s
“failed” policies, I believe the Pipeline looks a little more promising for economic growth and job creation. If Solyndra had to “compete with one hand tied behind their back” with China, (as you said), don’t you think that should have been explored “before” we gave them a guaranteed loan!! With all the oil on private and federal land, we have enough gas to last us for years, WHILE looking into other energy alternatives… As far as Obamacare, this is just a piece of legislation, and hasn’t been implemented yet but due to a second study, it is calculated to be 2X the cost, so
etters to the editor are published without any editing. Any errors in
getting a reduced group rate is highly unlikely. As far as hypocrisy is con- cerned, President Obama is the master. He tells the American people to buy electric cars, keep our tires infl ated and get tune- ups, as he drives around in gas guzzling SUV’s, declines the Pipeline (Pres Clinton embraces it) that could actually help pro- mote jobs, wants “HIS” chil- dren to be treated in a civil and thoughtful manner and not be ridiculed, meanwhile he takes a 1 million donation from the most vicious, slandering comedian Bill Maher, while he criticizes Rush Limbaugh. He tell us to “tightened our belts” and “hang in there”, things will get better as the economy spins out of control. So you and John Flynn (March 13) need to do your own homework, because you’re both incorrect and just drinking the Obama Kool-Aid.
Mary Doblander Goodyear
Let’s see what the court
decides Editor:
The U. S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the consti- tutionality of the Patient Protec- tion and Affordable Care Act this week. Hopefully, they will base their decision on the facts and
the law, not on the rhetoric of the critics of “Obamacare”. Here are some of the criticisms that
FactCheck.org and
Politifact.com judge to be untrue: Obamacare is a government
takeover of health care. (False) Obamacare will kill jobs across America. (False) Unions don’t have to comply with Obamacare. (False) Obamacare will cost nearly twice as much as expected. (False) There will be a 3.8% tax on home sales to fund Obamacare. (False)
A board created by Obamacare can ration and deny treatment. (False)
Obamacare will bankrupt Medi- care in less than 15 years. (False) It’s fi ne to have differing opinions on an issue, but Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and many others are just making stuff up. Let’s see what the Court decides, then proceed with rational, truthful debate.
John Flynn Goodyear
Democrats show their
hypocrisy Editor:
I sent in a letter a few weeks ago suggesting that President Obama may have already lost the 2012 election due to ever rising
(See Letters on Page 7)
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