I am happy to report that we have a patron for our helmet choice bill.
Delegate Ben Cline as agreed to patron the bill.
Delegate Cline’s District Office is in Amherst Virginia and he has been a longtime supporter of individual rights.
He sits on the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee
and is the chairman of the sub-committee in which the bill would most
likely be heard.
That is the same sub-committee that unanimously killed the bill to prohibit children under eight from riding on motorcycles.
He is a well-respected member of the House of Delegates and will make a strong patron.
We
continue to believe that this year presents the best opportunity we
have ever had to bring Virginia in line with the majority of other
states that allow motorcyclists to choose how to
best protect themselves. We have worked with our
lobbying team through the summer and fall to shore up support from
longtime friends and to get commitments of support from key members of
the Senate.
Martin, Chip and Susan have done an outstanding job of getting
commitments from legislators whom in the past have shown no inclination
to support such a measure.
Their help has been invaluable. That being said we are a far cry away from being able to declare victory.
It is one thing to get commitments in September.
It is another thing to have them stay with you through January.
As you know, VCOM has spent a considerable amount of money in this effort.
Much has been raised by Virginia motorcyclists and we are extremely grateful for that.
Our law firm has donated the $25,000 to VCOM that we pledged last year.
The amount needed to keep our lobbying team through session is $24,000.
We have $12,000 in the bank. We are asking motorcyclists to raise an additional $12,000.
We know that this is a lot to ask but without help our chances of success decrease dramatically.
We have made much progress this summer and fall (my wife jokes that I need to get back to my paying job).
But this progress has been made without active opposition.
It’s like the difference between shooting at the range and in combat.
So far we have been at the range.
Come January we will have people shooting back.
And if in this analogy we consider money ammo, they have a lot more than we do.
That is why it was so critical to lay our foundation early.
I will make this suggestion again.
If everyone on this list could get ten people to donate $10.00 that would be $100 per person.
If you are a member of an organization, get each member of your organization to collect $10.00 from ten people.
We could raise the money in no time.
Again, I want to thank everyone and every organization who has worked this year to help this effort.
Your work has brought us closer than we have ever been.
I am not guaranteeing victory but I am guaranteeing, with your help, a hell of a good fight.
As I said before, there is no other group of people I would rather be fighting next to than you.
I was asked to include where to send donations. The address is below:
Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists
PO Box 4851
Richmond, VA 23220
Matt Danielson
Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists
1-800-353-3971
