Government as Parent

If your family includes a child younger than eight years or weighing less than 80 pounds, you’d better also have a booster seat in your car. That new regulation took effect January 1, much to John Hood’s disapproval, as he told Freedom Newspapers’ Barry Smith. “As a parent, I would prefer safety experts give me information, not give me orders.” Hood added there are more pressing problems facing kids including child abuse, poverty, and parents with alcohol problems. The story ran in the Times-News of Burlington, The Daily News of Jacksonville, The Sun Journal of New Bern and the Shelby Star.