Comments on: Governor signs guide bill, but will it stop the Coast Guard?

By: Hunting Equipment

Hunting Equipment — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:17:24 +0000

Totally agree with Carol Smith. The Coast Guard should be in charge as long as your in water. This is their job to make sure everyone abide by the rules and they do this to protect lives.

By: Rich Hilts

Rich Hilts — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:55:17 +0000

Lack of rules, lack of responsibility, lack of enforcment, lack of safety….It’s that simple. The USGS is a competent group that does a great job of maintaining quality of enjoying all the navigable waterways in the U.S. What we don’t need is more government regulation because we don’t agree with the rules already in place…

By: Dewey Landrum Sr.

Dewey Landrum Sr. — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:18:42 +0000

As a retired Coast Guard man I fully agree with Carol Smith.
The Coast Guard spends thousands of man hours every week looking for people that did not have proper equipment or life jackets for all on board. If the guides can’t afford to go by Coast Guard requirements they don’t need to be putting other people’s lives in danger.

By: Greg Arnold

Greg Arnold — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:37:43 +0000

As a Coast Guard Veteran I am in complete agreement with Carol Smith’s comments.
ANYONE who takes money to transport people on a boat should be under the control of the Coast Guard, and not governed by local authorities attempting to ease standard licensing regulations which are applicable on all navigable waterways.
Senator Inhofe has earned my respect in the past as regards to certain rights for military veterans, but I feel his energies in backing Oklahoma SB 277 may be misguided though honorable.

By: Carol Smith

Carol Smith — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:42:36 +0000

The Coast Guard requirements aren’t that strict – and they are specific to INLAND waters – not coastal! They require such things as knowledge of the navigation rules and a certain amount of experience on the type of waters where they will be working. Oh, and drug testing. And their boat must have proper safety equipment – like enough life jackets and fire extinguishers. I’d personally like to know that the person I hired knew how to not run into someone else and that there were life jackets on board.