[Strutz]

I just read this article and was going to post it anyway so I thought I'd put the question forth in a poll.

Our life-jacket laws are archaic and need to be overhauled

[herbie]

I simply can't get over how many people will go out in a boat that can't swim. Or the number of locals that grew up on this lake, can't swim, g out on a boat drunk without even having a life jacket on board.
One of my high school buddies was a Coast Guard Boating Safety Officer. His favourite tale was about the number of bodies he'd pulled from the water with their dicks out. Fell overboard taking a piss...

[DrCaleb]

I'm conflicted.

On one hand, freedom. The people who want to be 'free' might end up removing themselves from society in claiming that freedom.

On the other hand, the cost of retrieving those bodies. And we can't just leave them floating for the fishes. That's unsanitary.

[JaredMilne]

When I took swimming lessons as a little kid, the instructors showed us life jackets and PFDs and told us they were mandatory. I thought that meant they were mandatory to wear at all times in a boat...

...but then I remember all the times I've seen other people in boats without them, and the times I've been without one.

But I see this guy's logic. We require seatbelts to be worn in cars and safety harnesses on amusement park rides, so why wouldn't we require lifejackets or PFDs?

[llama66]

Government overreach. My Body; My choice. I will not be mandated to wear a life jacket. FREEDOM!

[DrCaleb]

I agree. You should have the right to drown while thinking "Shit! I should have warn a life jacket! Damn, I am really stupid!"

[raydan]

They don't save lives, they just make it easier to find the bodies.

[herbie]

You're onto something! People without one will sink and greatly increase the food source for Dungeness crabs. A really good thing.

[Strutz]

herbie herbie:

I simply can't get over how many people will go out in a boat that can't swim. Or the number of locals that grew up on this lake, can't swim, g out on a boat drunk without even having a life jacket on board.
One of my high school buddies was a Coast Guard Boating Safety Officer. His favourite tale was about the number of bodies he'd pulled from the water with their dicks out. Fell overboard taking a piss...

This reminds me of someone I knew several years ago who fell off a dock while drunk and taking a leak. No one else around and he somehow managed to get himself out of the water. He quit drinking after that, it scared him that badly.

[bootlegga]

I don't even understand how this is a question - of course it should be mandatory, just like seatbelts, child safety seats, motorcycle helments, and all the other safety equipment we've developed to prevent dumbasses from dying.

[herbie]

Waaah!! My FREEEEDUMB!!!