Re: New Florida Boating Education Requirements
You need a drivers licence for a car. You need a motorcycle licence for a motorcycle. You need a pilots licence for an airplane. My nearly blind 90 year old mother with no experience, can jump into a 600 HP ski boat and tear off across the lake without any regulations against the fact that she would probably kill herself or someone else. How can anyone think it's wrong to have everyone take a boating course and get a license? There will always be morons; but at least everyone on the water will know the rules, and be aware of when they're breaking them. Education is always better than ignorance; and a licence is simply proof that you have been taught, even if you still disreguard the law. Now don't give me that crap about it being a sport or leisure activity. This isn't rock climbing or bungee jumping when the only one to be hurt or killed is you; this is an activity that has the potential to affect others. All other forms of action (driving, flying etc.) that involve a degree of responsibility are licensed; so should boating.
You need a drivers licence for a car. You need a motorcycle licence for a motorcycle. You need a pilots licence for an airplane. My nearly blind 90 year old mother with no experience, can jump into a 600 HP ski boat and tear off across the lake without any regulations against the fact that she would probably kill herself or someone else. How can anyone think it's wrong to have everyone take a boating course and get a license? There will always be morons; but at least everyone on the water will know the rules, and be aware of when they're breaking them. Education is always better than ignorance; and a licence is simply proof that you have been taught, even if you still disreguard the law. Now don't give me that crap about it being a sport or leisure activity. This isn't rock climbing or bungee jumping when the only one to be hurt or killed is you; this is an activity that has the potential to affect others. All other forms of action (driving, flying etc.) that involve a degree of responsibility are licensed; so should boating.