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These law-abiding citizens in Vietnam always wear their motorcycle helmets Chitose Suzuki/Associated Press via PA

Biker crashes and dies in protest against... wearing of helmets

Bare-headed motorcyclist crashed during anti-helmet legislation protest. Police say a helmet would most likely have saved his life.

A BARE-HEADED MOTORCYCLIST crashed while he was riding his Harley Davidson at a protest rally against a New York State law that requires bike riders to wear helmets has died.

Philip Contos, 55, from Parish, New York died when he hit his brakes and the motorcycle fishtailed. The bike spun out of control, and Contos toppled over the handlebars.

He was pronounced dead at a hospital. New York State troopers said Contos was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson with a group of bikers who were protesting helmet laws by not wearing helmets.

His brother told the Syracuse based Post-Standard newspaper that given the opportunity Contos would ride without a helmet again if he could. “He would have wanted it that way,”  his older brother Richard Contos said.

Mr Contos described his younger brother, who was a truck driver by trade and also a former US army man, as a “rebel” who hated the government and “protested everything”.

The accident happened on Saturday afternoon in the town of Onondaga, in central New York near Syracuse. The protest was organised by a group known as the American Bikers Aimed Towards Education (ABATE).

It encourages bikers to use helmets but opposes the mandatory use of them. Spokesperson for ABATE Christinea Rathbun said the death would not change the group’s attitude towards the law and would not prevent them from protesting in future.

Troopers say Contos would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet.

- additional reporting by AP

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    Mute Johnny Ryan
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    Dec 30th 2015, 8:45 PM

    If there’s one thing man has done exceedingly well, it’s the tragic accomplishment of making a complete balls of the planet.

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    Mute Debi Nikita
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    Dec 30th 2015, 9:04 PM

    No one really thinks of these things and it’s so logical when you do think about it. We are very good at one thing though and that’s f….. ing up the planet.

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    Mute Robert O'Rourke
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    Dec 30th 2015, 9:15 PM

    Sandpaper is a great exfoliant.

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    Mute Daniel R
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    Dec 30th 2015, 9:23 PM

    I prefer battery acid

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    Mute Bríd Uí Mhaoluala
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    Dec 30th 2015, 10:53 PM

    Actually a good towelling will do the job, no need for sandpaper.

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    Mute Spud
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    Dec 30th 2015, 11:36 PM

    Jeyes fluid and a wire brush. Be grand.

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    Mute ChocSaltyBallz
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    Dec 31st 2015, 12:38 AM

    How about an exfoliating glove and some soap simple

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Dec 31st 2015, 3:47 PM

    A what and who????…

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    Mute Uncle Monty
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    Dec 30th 2015, 8:34 PM

    The poor fish. A mass shooting a day is grand, though.

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    Mute Jason Fallon
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    Dec 31st 2015, 12:00 AM

    So guns are fine. It’s micro beads that were the problem all along. God bless America

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Dec 31st 2015, 3:48 PM

    Murika ..

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    Mute Denise Houlihan
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    Dec 30th 2015, 11:35 PM

    An Irish made Kileen bathroom sponge is the best exfoliator going.

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    Mute D
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    Dec 31st 2015, 12:08 AM

    No kinder eggs .. No microbeads and yet guns ok? Madness.

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    Mute spork
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    Dec 30th 2015, 8:41 PM

    So all they need is a mass shooting of fish and no more guns

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Dec 30th 2015, 10:18 PM

    What gave you the impression there exists a dichotomy? I wasn’t aware passing an environmental law would preclude a gun control law.

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    Mute billy dunne
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    Dec 31st 2015, 1:01 AM

    @ johhnyryan 10000000percent agree with your comment

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