Keeping My Poulan...

Last week, I commented on a proposed law to ban you from filling your car with fuel. This week, we are focusing on the danger of leaf blowers. Honestly, these commentaries write themselves. Illinois legislators from Chicago dream up one nutty idea after another…

I’m not joking on the leaf blower bill. It’s Senate Bill 3313, sponsored by Senator Laura Fine. It makes it illegal to either sell or operate a leaf blower within Illinois. You could be fined up to $500 if you are caught blowing.

According to her website, Fine is a champion of women’s rights, an advocate for public education and a strong supporter of a clean environment. The last one is where the rub comes in.

Fine says the two and four stroke gas powered engines are a detriment to clean air. The death machines spew high rates of pollution into the environment. She says, leaf blowers contribute to acid rain. But that’s not all…Did you know leaf blowers are so noisy that it can cause hearing loss? It’s in the bill.

Did you hear that?

I could go on, but you get the idea. Senator Fine is not a fan of the folks in our community who sell or operate toxic leaf blowing. It's dangerous. By the way, it doesn’t mention potential vision loss. That’s right, a high caliber leaf blower can also put your eye out.

Unlike guns, leaf blowers didn’t make it into the Bill of Rights. But if this bill becomes law, I will fight to keep my Poulan.