This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Motorcycle helmet laws:

— Wearing helmets: Let's require sensible behavior — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial ... The consequences of irresponsible behavior go beyond the reckless biker. We need to require helmets for everyone riding a motorcycle.

— Mandatory helmet law for Utah? — Provo Daily Herald Editorial ... Unless you're going to ban motorcycles altogether — along with extra large sodas — you might as well forget about reducing risks to individual riders. Riding itself carries inherent risks, helmet or no helmet. And the state's interest doesn't seem compelling. ...

Legal marijuana:

— It's official. Pot is legal in Colorado. However ... — Denver Post Editorial ... Amendment 64 is now law, but that doesn't make it OK to puff in public or secretly serve pot brownies. ...

Same-sex marriage:

— Judicial clarity on the issue of same-sex marriage — Deseret News Editorial... Although its record is not perfect in this regard, the Supreme Court plays its most vital role within our republic when it establishes clear constitutional boundaries for the states, the political branches and the lower courts with regard to complex and contentious political issues. The contested issues surrounding same-sex marriage would benefit from mature judicial clarity....

— Time for clarity about equality — San Francisco Chronicle Editorial ... The moment has arrived for these nine justices to reconcile government discrimination of gays and lesbians — denying them the right to marry in California and denying those who do marry in other states more than 1,000 federal rights and responsibilities accorded to married heterosexual couples under the so-called Defense of Marriage Act — with the constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law. ...

— Heightened interest in gay marriage — Provo Daily Herald Editorial ... There's no telling how the U.S. Supreme Court will rule after agreeing to review gay marriage. But it really had to take up the matter. A mishmash of state laws legalizing and prohibiting gay marriage have created such confusion across the nation that only a groundbreaking constitutional decision will clear things up. ...

— Laying down the law on gay marriage — Los Angeles Daily News Editorial ... Had the Supreme Court decided not to hear the appeal, it would have been giving the go-ahead to gay marriage, but this would have applied only to California. ...

— Supreme Court decision on gay marriage less important that trajectory of public opinion — San Jose Mercury News Editorial

— Overturn DOMA, rule for same-sex marriage — Charlotte Observer Editorial

— U.S. Supreme Court should rule for equal justice in same-sex marriage cases — Seattle Times Editorial

— Human rights on the verge — Everett Daily Herald Editorial