Seattle Repeals Bike Helmet Law

Daniel Kriegman, a psychologist and former friend of Harvey Weinstein, writes in Quillette:

In 1986, an article by Robert Longo in Psychology Today stated (without reference to any supportive data or scientific research) that “Most untreated sex offenders go on to commit more offenses, indeed as many as 80 percent do.” That article was then referenced in a manual published by the US Department of Justice. And, on the basis of that manual, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in a 2002 SCOTUS decision that sex criminals pose “a frightening and high risk of recidivism” and that “the rate of recidivism of untreated offenders has been estimated to be as high as 80 percent.” Justice Kennedy repeated the “frightening and high” claim in a subsequent decision the following year.

He goes on to explain that this is completely false, and that the sex offender recidivism rate is lower than for most other crimes.

I am not sure about his analysis of Weinstein, but we need legal policies that reflect the realities of the crimes.

Seattle is repealing a law, just because Blacks disobey it:

In the face of data showing enforcement has been both minimal and has disproportionately affected people of color and those experiencing homelessness, the King County Board of Health voted Thursday to repeal its decades-old mandatory helmet law for bicycle riders. The repeal goes into effect in 30 days.

Here, "people of color" is a euphemism for Blacks. Coloed Asian-Americans have been obeying the helmet law.

The helmet law is a stupid and unnecessary nanny state law, but this is a stupid reason to repeal it.