Orrin
Active VIP Member
In the last few weeks we've seen tragedy and true heroism, we've also seen sensationalism and anger. Many in the media simply use these events to sell their product, many use the events to further their career, some actually care enough to try and tell the truth. I was dismayed by the reporters who couldn't even take the time to learn the simple terminology of the sport never mind to try and understand our subculture. These media types who are blasting us for taking uneccessary risks are also the ones who speed to news stories putting the general public at risk. They are the same types who try to garner reactions from victims families by asking questions designed to further their own agenda, both of these are just examples of their hypocrasy, just two simple examples of many I have witnessed. BTW I have been involved with the media on several occasions, I have yet to see them get it right.
The government wants to improve back country safety, fine this is a admirable goal but I ask if the safety of the people is the goal wouldn't the efforts and money be better spent improving road and driving safety. How many people die on the roads every year compared to in the hills? There are a lot more of the innocent general public put at risk on the roadways every day than in the backcountry. As for fines or paying for rescues, how about all the other risk exposed activities are there that require occasional rescues? For that matter when an immigrant citizen returns to his home country and requires the Canadian Armed Forces to rescue them will they have to pay for the ships and helo's to come get them? At any given time of the day the RCMP and emergency services are helping people who put themselves at risk from getting into late night bar fights to leaving the candle burning near the drapes to getting in traffic accidents etc etc etc. Part of the social contract is that we all pay taxes to fund rescue and public services for each other. Should we charge everybody when they need help? These are just a few of my thoughts on this Sunday morning.
The government wants to improve back country safety, fine this is a admirable goal but I ask if the safety of the people is the goal wouldn't the efforts and money be better spent improving road and driving safety. How many people die on the roads every year compared to in the hills? There are a lot more of the innocent general public put at risk on the roadways every day than in the backcountry. As for fines or paying for rescues, how about all the other risk exposed activities are there that require occasional rescues? For that matter when an immigrant citizen returns to his home country and requires the Canadian Armed Forces to rescue them will they have to pay for the ships and helo's to come get them? At any given time of the day the RCMP and emergency services are helping people who put themselves at risk from getting into late night bar fights to leaving the candle burning near the drapes to getting in traffic accidents etc etc etc. Part of the social contract is that we all pay taxes to fund rescue and public services for each other. Should we charge everybody when they need help? These are just a few of my thoughts on this Sunday morning.
