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Mud in Your Eye

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Motorcycle History is Written by the Winners

Thursday, March 26, 2009

We gathered on the steps; why wasn't it enough?

Well, the OHV community did a fine job of rallying together and helping keep the original Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (S. 22) from passing. But the sneaky lawmakers managed to weasel this devastating land closure into effect regardless. The necessary two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives failed by a single raised hand and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. Without so much as a warning, the bill was re-introduced immediately as an amendment to the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program (H.R. 146). Who the hell in our motorcycle community is paying attention to anything with that title? I sure wasn’t, and the forces behind this overbearing OHV land regulation knew it.

The AMA/MIC/AARA/BRC all did a commendable job of trying to raise awareness in the short amount of time, and for those of us who called or wrote legislators, I thank you. But the speedy rebound and subversive tactics saw the bill blaze through the Senate by a vote of 77/20 before we had even stopped celebrating. They didn’t sit around and bitch, instead they adjusted their tactics and kicked us square in the teeth. With only a majority needed, the House was in favor by more than 2-to-1. We just lost 2 million acres.

It's our land, but it won't be if we allow it to be taken.

Let’s remember this in the future; know that if we lower our guard in order to pat our own backs then we’re going to wind up with a black eye. I, for one, am really tired of getting beat up by greenie lawmakers. There can be middle ground, people. We’re already giving things up, so we might as well get a little in return, but we need to be the ones who fight for it or this trend of all take and no give will continue. As long as we continue to fail as a whole, the future looks bleak for off-road riding. A generation or two from now, where will people ride?

They say that history is written by the winners. Well so are the laws…

Related Omnibus Articles:
Congress Passes Massive Omnibus Legislation
House Voting on New Omnibus Public Lands Bill
Senate Set to Send Omnibus to House

Other Motorcycle Laws:
Senate Bill Could Overturn OHV Lead Ban
Lead Ban Stops Youth ATV and Motorcycle Sales

Post Tags: OHV Laws, Motorcycle Laws, ATV Laws, Omnibus Public Lands Act

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Comments

Maryellen McMurray -travesty April 6, 2009 04:30 AM
If, in fact, this was the way the two bills were voted, it has all the hallmarks of politics as usual. But if it was an immediate amendment submit, consider the personal reasons which each these "lawmakers" might have dredged up in the interest of "To Thine Own Self Be True." Even in Washington, it's possible. Who among us, though, are writing and calling their reps...re-elections are coming up fairly soon. Write to Barack, he has an abiding interest in the situation, as well as both sides of the debate. He DOES bring people together to listen to all in the room and often he will suggest a compromise. We won't get everything we want, nor will they. I think we also have to be cognizant that some pilots who drive these various machines do not respect the actual areas where riding is currently allowed. We have to police ourselves also, and with the huge number of folks of ride-ranging ages and riding styles...suffice it to say, I've seen some people truly trash out the areas which should be our collective duty to treasure and respect. Do we take it upon ourselves to repair damaged areas, or just swerve around them and go on our merry, fun filled way? Just one other comment before I end what some of you may consider "just a girl's crazy rant..." The "...as an amendment to the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program (H.R. 146)" is something the riding community should consider. A lot of men and women shed their blood for our freedoms, but I do not believe that they envisioned a freedom where we would consider desecrating what many consider holy lands. My own passion is motorcycling...not under the current AMA and all the changes, but on the European circuit. My blood pressure flies off the chart with the excitement of the SuperBike and MotoGP races...and Valentino Rossi is the best of the best! BTW: I'm a 60 year old lady, so no remarks from the peanut gallery about my being an umbrella girl ;=) Wishing you all a good day filled with writing to share you opinions with Congress!

Jack Becker -Leslie is right March 26, 2009 05:10 PM
Leslie is right, you can't compromise with people whose definition of the word is "have it all my way". Look where compromising has gotten us so far. It's time to dig in our heels and fight. No one on our side of the argument is asking to open up all of the wilderness to un restricted riding, but many of those on the other side are asking to close it all completely. Where is the compromise from them? We have been approaching this issue from a position of weakness by compromising for too long. No more.

JC -Something or nothing March 26, 2009 02:46 PM
If we're ignorant enough to think we'll get everything, we'll be even more sadly mistaken. There are good arguments for preserving Wilderness areas. If nothing else, how can we expect people to accommodate our needs and wishes if we don't accommodate some of theirs? We can't afford to be that arrogant.

Leslie D'Amico -compromise???? March 26, 2009 01:17 PM
As long as we continue to think a compromise is possible with the eviromentalist segment of society we will lose land until there is no place left to ride. These groups publicly stated aim is to close all public land and even some private land (just ask Jeremy McGrath) to recreational vehicle use. Because they can't understand why anyone would want to ride a motorcycle, a four wheeler, a snowmobile, etc. they want to protect you from yourself. They will continue to take land away a little at a time. If you think compromising with them is going to bring them to our way of thinking and leave us with public land for public use you will be sadly mistaken.