Originally Posted By: 90 dB
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Makes a case for licensing boaters - that debate will rise again after this.

Regards,

Bob


It's not right to pass laws for people to protect themselves. People will find a way to be stupid and hurt or kill themselves.

There are plenty of dangerous activities out there, people die rock or mountain climbing every day, taking selfies with wild animals in National Parks, swimming when there is a rip tide, eating too much food and getting obese, hang gliding, skiing, etc, etc, etc.

When I was a kid, you didn't need a license to go scuba diving (or have your tanks filled). I don't think certification has reduced the number of diving deaths.

If you need a license to do something dangerous, where will it all end?

And even if you did, people will find a way to kill themselves.

Did you know that at the annual conference of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine the general consensus was "Don't let your son play tackle football, unless you don't like him." Why? The helmet protects the scalp but not the brain bouncing in the scull. Most footballers get concussions, usually mild ones. The result: people who play tackle football in school have a 25% greater chance than the general public of developing Parkinson's or Alzheimer's when they reach retirement age. So do we need a license for that too? Or ban the sport?

Look at the drug laws. I would guess more non-drug users' lives have been ruined by the drug laws than total lives would be lost with drugs if they were legal. Because of the illegality the price is high, and people are at risk for robbery to pay for drugs, not to mention the gang wars and power struggles.

You just can't protect people from themselves by passing laws. It doesn't work.

The loss of the two boys is tragic, and I feel for their loved ones who are definitely in pain.

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Someone mentioned Marathon.

Back when US mechanics didn't work on any foreign car but a VW, my Fiat Spyder broke down at the 55 mile marker.

Two days later, I had to tow it back to Fort Lauderdale, and the well meaning mechanic had put so many holes in the wiring, probing to see where the electricity was/wasn't, that the car never was the same. Corrosion set in and wiring became a constant problem. The cause of the original problem? A new but defective distributor cap from some aftermarket parts company.

It was a great car though. Topped out at 137mph. The speedometer said 140 but it redlined a little above 137. Yes, I did some dangerous speeding in that car - could have killed myself - but the traffic laws didn't prevent me from doing it.

So I guess I'm helping hijack the thread.

But then, the PG Forum is so nice, we can talk about things with our forum friends that have nothing to do with BiaB. I like that.

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