Should a law be established, with penalties in the form of fines and incarceration, which dictates that individuals are legally bound to dial 911 if they stumble upon a situation wherein an innocent individual’s life is in danger of being snuffed out, or is simply in some type of emergency situation?
I think not, though there are six states that have such laws on the books.
So asks John Venlet, yesterday.
This is an improper use of state powers, and just another attempt to legislate morality. The events which have been the catalyst for Smith’s decision to push for such legislation do indeed produce feelings of sadness, but laws should not be established based on feelings, but reason.
John, I tend to agree, even though I think the laws well-intended. But I think it ought to be pointed out that this law in the states where it is law, and the proposals where it isn’t, are the direct result of our overly litigious society. With the possibility of getting sued simply for doing the right thing, can you imagine why people might not want to? Were we not just the other day talking about Congress defeating or not defeating the “John Doe ” clause in the whistleblower law? With that trend in mind, who can blame John Doe for not wanting to get involved even at this level?
A man with a hammer, of course, thinks every problem is a nail. Therefore and ironically, to these lawmakers, the solution to law and government, and our increasing reliance on the court system is is more law and government, and more reliance on the court system. It ends up, unintentionally, as yet another power grab by the government.
Tags: BitsBlog, Social Issues
