Jr. Patriot Report

by John Stumpner

ABATE of Wisconsin members often talk about preserving the “freedom of the road.” Part of what ABATE does to preserve freedom of the road is to make sure that motorcycles remain a legal form of transportation. ABATE also works to make sure that fuel for motorcycles will always be available. Perhaps most importantly, ABATE wants to make sure the roads and traffic laws allow for bikers to continue to safely use the roadways. While ABATE of Wisconsin’s efforts are mostly spent on influencing the laws here in Wisconsin, our efforts can affect other states as well.

The First Article of the United States Constitution describes how the Congress is to be set up and tells what the duties and responsibilities of the Congress are to be. One of the duties of the United States Congress is to control trade between States. Imagine if a State could pass laws only allowing the goods and people from certain states but not others. This could be confusing and would certainly keep the citizens of the United States from freely traveling around the country. By having Congress control the trade between States, one state cannot stop the people of another state from freely moving around the country.

The Fourth Article of the Constitution tells how the state governments would deal with each other. Part of the Fourth Article says that laws and legal documents in one state should be respected in another. Now, not all documents are going to be valid in all states. For example, a Wisconsin fishing license would not be valid in Minnesota. However, since the First Article says the United States Congress controls interstate commerce, driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations from one state are valid in another. Imagine how difficult travel would be if each state only allowed people with driver’s licenses from that state to use its roadways.

On a different topic, during the past few years, we have seen news reports about violent demonstrations by various groups. These groups feel they are being denied certain rights and freedoms. While these groups have the right to protest, they do not have the right to be violent and destructive. Also, their rioting and destruction usually does not result in any meaningful change. For 50 years, ABATE of Wisconsin members have been demonstrating for biker’s rights, safety, and freedom to use the roads. Our demonstrations are not violent or destructive and have resulted in meaningful changes in laws and public attitudes toward bikers. This past May, many ABATE regions were out demonstrating by asking other motorists to watch out for motorcycles. These “Awareness Rallies” often included more than a few young people and Junior Patriots.

John