Helmets and Freedom

While I was standing outside of the polls on election day, a fellow rode up and wanted to know if I stood for freedom or not. Of course I said yes because I can't think of a single candidate who opposes freedom. (Actually I just thought of a couple, some of whom I am running against.)

As it turns out, his biggest issue was the helmet law in Maryland which mandates that a biker must wear a helmet or face fines and possible criminal conviction.

I have to confess that I do not own a motorcycle and I have never actually ridden a motorcycle. My wife has. Her whole family, my in-laws, are big motorcycle people. Once you turn three in her family, you learn to ride a bike. She's not kidding, I've seen the photos. My father-in-law owns Deer Park Cycle in Westminster doing repairs and restorations. His brand of choice is the Triumph. (Trying to get you some business, Jack!)



I think it's absurd to have a law that forces people to wear helmets. To me, it seems like a good idea to wear a helmet, but that's just my opinion. And that's my point. It's your skull. It's not the government's business what you choose to do with it. It is if you are interfering with the life, liberty or property of another person. But wearing a helmet is a personal decision. I don't see how the government can justify this law.

I would proudly sponsor the legislation to repeal the helmet law in Maryland. To answer that voters question again, yes I stand for freedom.

Vote for freedom, Vote Chiappelli.

Happy Mother's Day!

I spent today with my wife and my mother trying to thank them for the great job they do every day of the year. My mother's day present to the community was not to be knocking on their doors today.

Mother's have one of the hardest jobs out there. And they don't even get paid.

Our government has a responsibility to support parents. As they say, the children are our future. We already do a lot through our schools, our libraries and our parks. I, for one, enjoy taking my kids to the local parks and libraries.

And if the government can't be helpful to parents, it has the job of getting out of the way and letting parents parent. One area of legislation that I'd like to revisit are the regulations concerning child-care. I support the movement to professionalize daycare providers. Background checks, safety inspections, certifications, etc. But that costs money. We are creating a situation where the people that need childcare the most, the working poor and the middle class, can't afford it. We need to review our laws to make sure that we aren't increasing daycare costs above the level where most people can afford them.

There have been reports of neighbors watching neighbors children and then getting hit with fines from the state. That's not right.

Protect the mothers, protect the children, Vote Chiappelli.

Micromanage

Bob McWilliams' column in the April 2nd issue of the Capital highlights the type of delegate that I do not want to become.

Bad things happen. If a person causes a bad thing to happen to another person, generally you can sue. Most of the time there is already a law against it. The crime of assault includes unwanted touching of all varieties. The crime of Harassment includes non-physical conduct which is harassing all the same. Stealing is wrong.

By and large, we have our bases covered.

Bad things will still happen.

And when they do, legislators leap to the rescue to create a new law or regulation that re-states the existing law. Mr. McWilliams column mentions a few laws which were proposed this session: Not hitting bicyclists with your car doors or throwing things at them or eating, drinking or smoking while driving a car.

Newsflash: It's already a crime to hit bicyclists with your car door. And if you are eating while driving and it causes and accident, you can be found guilty of reckless driving.

I'd like to quote Mr. McWilliams, "[O]ur legislators are much too quick to repeal "everyone's" freedom in response to isolated cases of individual irresponsibility. Increasingly, we all lose a bit of our liberty as we allow the passage of endless laws in a futile effort to control people who don't really care about the law to begin with."

I would like to go to Annapolis to help prune the Maryland Code. Why have three laws when we can condense them into one? Why have one law when none is required?

It's not a sexy issue, but it is important. Legislating is not a matter of picking up the paper and picking the issue of the day. Legislating is about taking a long-term look at the State and the government and determining the best course of action for the future.

Protect the Future. Vote Chiappelli.

Right to Bear Arms

I've started knocking on doors and so far the most common issue that people have asked me about is gun control. Or more accurately, that they do not want gun control.

We have the right to bear arms. If you want to own a gun, that's your right.

People seem surprised that a Democrat would be pro-guns. To me it's an issue of freedom. Freedom from government intrusion. Some people want the right to own a gun without the government hassling them, other people want the right to free speech without the government hassling them.

As long as whatever you're doing is not harming the person or property of anyone else, then I don't see how it's the governments business.

Protect the Future, Vote Chiappelli.

Complete Waste of Time

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler issued an opinion today that Maryland should recognize same-sex marriages that are validly entered into in other states. Mind you this is a non-binding opinion.

I happened to be having lunch with the current delegation from the fighting 31st so I was able to hear Delegate Dwyer's reaction. He is going to seek the impeachment of Doug Gansler.

I didn't say anything at the time because, well, it seems rude to insult a man who's paying for your lunch.

But this is exactly the kind of nonsense that motivated me to run for delegate.

There is a serious budget crisis going on. People are losing their homes to foreclosures. People are losing their jobs. People are still losing their lives fighting overseas and Dwyer wants to waste the General Assembly's time on this?! A non-binding opinion?

The recognition of same-sex marriages from other states is a non-issue. It does not cost the state a dime. It does not require Maryland to do anything. It does not harm anyone.

Dwyer stated that it wasn't the opinion itself so much as the unconstitutionality of the opinion that really upsets him. This bothers me for a couple reasons.
-One: I went to law school for three years to study the constitution. Gansler's opinion is constitutional.
-Two: This is exactly the partisan fighting that does nothing productive but sucks energy and resources away from real issues. Clean air, clean water, better schools, the economy, etc.
-Three: Dwyer is pushing an extremist agenda. The good people of the fighting 31st are not extremist. Who is Dwyer really representing?

This attack is just another way to try to wedge the bedroom door open to government intrustion. I said it before and I'll say it again, the government and Dwyer have no place in my bedroom.

Protect the future: Vote Chiappelli.

Liquor Law

An issue that someone raised to me recently was about the proposed change to the liquor laws which would allow someone in Maryland to order wine from out of state and have it shipped to them. I figured that there had to be more to the controversy than that. There must be some complex reason for the current law. I told the constituent that I would look into it.

I did. There is no complex reason or deeper matter. People should be allowed to order wine through the mail.

It's a matter that is supported by the majority of the people. The Baltimore Sun, Capital and Gazette have all supported it. It's a step toward a more free market. It's a matter that only concerns consenting adults. One who is selling the wine and the other who is buying the wine. Where is the government's interest? There is none.

So let it be known throughout the land, Jeremiah Chiappelli supports repealing the current law and allowing the good folk of Maryland to order wine through the mail.