Editor, The News:
I saw that the front page (The News, July 4) had kids at the Thomas Haney skate park – one doing a really cool trick on a scooter which would have been something I would have loved to show my five- and six-year-old boys – except the child was not wearing a helmet.
I think that is not something that should ever be shown as acceptable.
Helmets should be mandatory especially at the skate park. Not only is it so dangerous for that kid, but it sets a terrible example for all the other kids.
Recently, there was a young boy in Abbotsford who died because of a head injury sustained while riding a skateboard. I believe this was less then a month ago.
I am trying to enforce helmets with my kids, but they see other kids without and then think it’s cool.
It’s not cool.
It’s one of the stupid decisions a child can make and to place it on the front page of the newspaper makes it seem as if it’s an OK choice to make. I personally find this unbelievable and so do a ton of other people I have spoken with.
It is currently going around on Facebook (not my facebook page) and parents are furious.
I think the photo was a great capture but that boy should have been wearing a helmet and was just encouraged not to.
I hope you see what I am saying and it isn’t exactly a complaint about your paper but more of an eye opener.
I would like to see lives saved, not lost.
Tiffany Jansen
Shouldn’t have run scooter photo on front page
Editor, The News:
I’m sure you will receive lots of feedback on your cover photo (The News, July 4) showing scooter jumping.
I don’t care if this kid wears a helmet or not, but his photo shouldn’t be on the front page.
Ron Gilles
Maple Ridge
