In over 20 years of biking, more than 15 of which have been on bikes with quick release wheels, I've never had a wheel come off:

TRENTON, N.J. Certain bicycles with quick-release wheels couldn't be sold in New Jersey under legislation approved Monday by the Assembly. The bikes allow wheels to be removed without tools so they can be quickly secured with a chain lock or transported in vehicles. Lawmakers said they are prone to accidents. Under the bill, it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick-release wheels if the bicycle has a front wheel less than 20 inches in diameter. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, a Democrat from Gloucester, said the bill mainly targets children's bicycles.

This my friends is what we call classic rent seeking with a healthy dose of nannyism.  For it seems that a bike company has a new technology out which is still quick release, but counts as a "wheel retention" device as to evade the language of the law.  So instead of the company trying to compete on the merits of their product, they will instead make everyone else's product illegal.

For the kids of course.