04-04-2020, 12:52 AM
So here is another perspective- I am a volunteer firefighter/first responder in a tiny town. 6 member fire department and three EMTs. We respond to highway accidents, ATV wrecks, drunk and disorderly adventures and also try and watch out for the people in our own town, many who are elderly. Vernon reservoir has been packed with people for the last three weekends. Families and folks who want to get away from the city and go fish. No problem right? We are all Americans and have the freedom to do as we please. But guess who gets to respond to any accident/fight/medical emergency that the campers and fishermen have??? That would be our volunteer department. My dad is 80 and has COPD. Everyone of our department members have families and most have members with high risk factors. One young man has a three year old son who was born 2 months premature. All of us will respond to whatever the pager says we need too. And NONE of us will question the need for help. Here's the problem- we don't know who has been exposed to Corvid-19 and every call we take for recreational campers and sportsmen may be the call where WE get exposed. Every small town has these same worries and none of us are paid full time firemen. So when people hit the golf course or reservoir, they put us all at risk. I have a bear tag in San Juan county I'm supposed to be on right now. But I am not. Some things are bigger than me. I waited 16 years for this tag. I hope I can hunt later this year. Off my soapbox now. Y'all do as you please. But never believe your actions don't affect others.