Helmet Laws, needed or not?

Some people are reckless around horses, and many end up getting hurt because of this. For those whom are not reckless can still get hurt. A helmet is one way Equine Professionals can protect themselves when dealing with a horse. Think about it you are at least one fifth or their overall body weight. if they wanted to hurt you they could and will. Head injuries are the most common cause for riders to be admitted to the hospital for an injury and even death. The head injuries usually include brain damages or injuries to the skull, memory problems, personality changes, and even epilepsy. When theses injuries occur eight out of ten riders weren't wearing their helmets. Many people feel conflicted as to weather or not there should be a helmet law effective in every state.
I sent out a survey based on 2000 NYS legislature, to 30 equine professionals and equine enthusiasts. The questions were as follows
 "Do you think there should be a helmet law in every state?"
ten out of thirty said it was not necessary to be a law but it should be enforced
twenty out of thirty said it should be a law
"  NO PERSON LESS THAN FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE SHALL RIDE A HORSE UNLESS SUCH PERSON IS WEARING A HELMET MEETING OR EXCEEDING-(excerpt from NYS legislature in 2000), do you think that the law should be changed to all persons riding a horse shall wear a helmet?"
24 out of 30 said no it should not be all ages just those who are not adults
6 out of 30 said yes it should be changed to those of all ages
"     If you are at a barn and there is a sign posted stating “ride at own risk”, do you think that no barn should be allowed to say that without having persons involved wearing their helmets then proceeding to “ride at own risk”?"
25 out of 30 said no it falls into the risk category
5 out of 30 said yes
" Did you know ‘20% of all horse related injuries occur on the ground and not riding”, do you feel it is necessary for all persons whom enter the barn to wear a helmet, riding or not?
12 out of 30 said yes
18 out of 30 said no
The last Question wan an opinion question stating "“I already own a Bicycle helmet so why do I need another one”, what do you think is wrong with this statement."
All 30 stated that a bicycle helmet is not fit for horseback riding and cannot protect you from a horse related injury.
The last question was asked because I once had to explain to one of my students the differences in safety between a riding helmet and a bicycle helmet. A bicycle helmet could not withstand a fall from a horse or a horse kicking you in the head. a fall from 2 ft can cause brain damage and the horse elevates you 8 feet above the ground.
If you are injured when not wearing a helmet you have a 40% chance of sustaining another head injury which you will usually suffer worst than the first injury.
Since most riding injuries occur during pleasure riding all riders should know the dangers of riding a horse, anything can happen , will you be prepared for it?
source: http://www.mcshc.com/helmet_facts.htm