[Paddlewise] Kids and PFDs

I understand that talking about pfds is a "shoot the messenger" 
topic. I do appreciate all your thoughtful diatribes anyway.

In my own defense, my second sentence reported that the PA 
public comment period for PA Fish and Boat rule making runs until 
Nov 14, 2006. No doubt you didn't read that far before firing off your 
responses to the proposed legislation.

I think the most likely rule making will be to require PFDs in the 
Oct-May cold water season. Even that is likely to induce a Katrina-
grade hurricane response that PA Fish and Boat is unlikely to be 
able to withstand (make that a Full Scale-Second amendment NRA 
grade response against manditory PFD use even on 34 o F water 
in a northeast winter storm). All fair enough--but rescue divers 
should not be required to spend weeks searching for the bodies of 
folks that are determined to wear countless layers of woolies out 
on the water in those sleet storms. I say Tough guys that go to the 
bottom should stay on the bottom! I can write this crap too, by 
golly!

But about Kids! Two states still do not require children to wear pfds.
Twice in the past two years fathers have gone fishing with a son 
that has fallen overboard. In both cases, the fathers jumped in to 
save their sons and in both cases father and son went to the 
bottom. Tell me that it is ok for fathers to take their sons to the 
bottom with them because we must preserve our god given freedom 
of choice no matter who pays the price!

Best regards,
Chuck Sutherland
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