Today we went to a small beach café in Malibu. After lunch Louis, Theo and Eliot decided they wanted to jump in the ocean from the fishermen's pier that went out from the beach. Having checked the depth of the water they walked to the end of the pontoon, climbed over the signs that said no jumping and no diving and jumped into the water. Having swum back to the beach they were accosted by a lifeguard and 2 people from the café who told them they had to leave the beach. As they ignored the signs they could not on the beach. No amount of negotiation could deter these gentlemen from "doing their job". There is no rationality involved here. It this country as in many western countries it is assumed that people are irresponsible and therefore must be protected against themselves. Instead of warning people that they jump at their peril or that they should not jump at low tide a total ban is implemented. So in America you can walk around with a loaded gun but you can't jump into the ocean. Just under 2,000 people died in drowning accidents in natural waters in the US last year compared to over 15,500 from gunshots. So which should be a priority? Regulating beaches (where you can only hurt yourself) or guns where you kill others? I believe it would be better for our societies and our democracies if the assumption was that people are responsible rather than assuming they cannot make their own decisions.
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