DToy said:
....I suppose that if someone gets mugged or shot or stabbed during a basketball game at your school that it is the fault of you, the other school leaders, the basketball coach, the basketball players, and not the perpetrator, right? After all, it was the basketball game that invited the perpetrators to be in the vicinity, right? Should we cancel all inner-city basketball games because such an event could occur?
....Why aren’t you blaming the Sheriff’s Department and the BLM for the damage to your campsite? After all, you were in “an official BLM campsite” right? Isn’t it the BLM’s fault for planning the campsite in an area accessible to motorized vehicles? Shouldn’t the Sheriff be patrolling every road, campsite, and trail so that no illegal activities occur?
That appears to be a very well expressed and thought out composition in the overall picture Dtoy, and you have my support.
The only reservations I have would be regarding parts of the above paragraphs. I've highlighted the points with which I feel differently about, or might have some differing observations and input about.
In a school - which is a contained area - there is a chance of overall control, which differs from being at an outdoor camping area / trail / private establishment or any other locale spread out throughout the entire Moab valley ot beyond.
What I'm suggesting is that while the Basketball players, coach and school leaders who are not *directly* involved in the given example offered, and therefore should themselves not be held directly responsible; that responsibilty falling directly upon the shoulders of the perpetrator(s) and whatever/whomever might have directly provoked (
if provoked... and a stabbing/ violence is still not warranted; generally. Mugging is a different thing; it indicates a surprise attack, usually of an unprovoked nature. Just semi-technicalities here. But I'm not a lawyer. )
Taking that a step further, I'd say that while the increasing inconvenieces that burdens people in all areas is on the rise, one could have metal detectors or School or Professional Security Personnel to Prevent/Police such potential matters in an enclosed,well defined, demarcated area. Such would not apply to the random locations spread about in an outdoor environment. So then it folloes that there might be some responsibility which could possibly extend into the realm of those "in charge" if something would go awry. Again, I'm not an attorney; just guessing.
Next, the S.O. cannot be blamed for anything that happens. Law enforcement usually act after the fact. Let's assume they didn't see the perpetrator(s) in the act doing something *illegal*in advance or beforehand, for which they could have apprehended them. This isn't a Police State... yet.
They might have some administrative culpability and responsibility if they failed to act, investigate, follow-up, and so-forth on a complaint brought before them, after the fact/criminal action.
Also, the S.O cannot be everywhere, policing everything and everyone. That's just not a feasible reality. Do the math of the area size/ number of persons/ and the obviously limited Law enforcement presence. It is not likely, nor would I want it, or have to pay taxes to that degree, so as to have one Peace Officer for every person/ campsite/ road / trail/ restaurant, etc. etc.
So, my answer to the latter is NO... they S.O. or Police cannot and should not be policing *every road, campsite and trail*. I prefer my liberty under a non-police state; and the notion that this would ensure that *no illegal activities occur* is unlikely no matter what. People and the world are just like that, and crime has been around as long as has mankind.
Then as far as a BLM campsite and vehicular access is concerned. Unless you're camping in the backcountry in a Wilderness area, most campsites are going to have vehicular access. That's normal AFAIK; What good would it be to have only campsites where you have to lug all your stuff in by foot from a vehicle? I mean, most who camp here live somewhere else and use a vehicle to carry both themselves and their equipment.
Now, if you're suggesting that at all these dirt road campsites, that a parking area be established/ fenced-off preventing vehicular access whereby vehicular manslaughter/ property damage and then you haul your gear some 5 ~ 100 yards to get to a site, that's a different matter. I don't necessarily care for the idea. I also don't camp at or have need to camp at such sites. A poll should be taken or something which will address the needs/ desires of the affected parties regarding that one.
That's just my take on it. Still overall, I think the main content and gist of that which you wrote is of very high merit. I tip my hat to you for your thought and effort.
With kind regards,
Capt. Picky
