>Just to be clear though, there is not reason parents cannot exercise whatever safety rules they like for their children, or that anyone cannot choose for themselves to take whatever precautions. Good judgement and good parent actually can and do exist without government intervention or supervision.
>

Well, except when they can't because they don't control the situation. For example, there's an ongoing discussion as to whether school buses ought to have seat belts. Individual parents don't get to choose for their own kids; the buses have them or they don't. Yeah, if you're really unhappy about whichever choice your local school board has made, you can drive your kid to school instead, but that's only if you have a car and are available at the appropriate time.

Lots of safety laws apply to things that aren't in the "parents can decide" class. Things like cars being required to have seat belts and air bags.

Tamar