Wildlife lighting ordinance hearing Dec. 9

WRobert - are they trying to take your puppies away?

I just don't understand why reducing gulf-front light pollution and protecting an endangered species is such a bad thing.

WRobert - are they trying to take your puppies away?

I just don't understand why reducing gulf-front light pollution and protecting an endangered species is such a bad thing.

Protecting endangered species is not a bad thing, trampling property rights is a bad thing.

Food for thought

Turtle lighting ordinances have been in effect across the state as far back as the mid 1980s. Nothing new, if you look at the map on this link, it will show how the majority of turtle nesting areas along the coast in the state have some type of ordinance in place. I was not at the meeting on Dec. 9, but it is my understanding from what I heard from Sharon Maxwell of Turtle Watch, that the biggest objection was from big business, and not private homeowners.

http://www.floridaconservation.org/seaturtle/Lighting/Light_Ordinance.htm

Map:
http://www.floridaconservation.org/seaturtle/Lighting/SeaTurtle_LightOrdMap_Nov08.pdf

Perhaps you can explain to a father and mother why their daughter was raped on a beach we advertise as "safe." There is no way to have a safe beach for humans at night without light. Read any risk prevention pamplet you wish ( my insurance company sends them out by the millions) and it will advise you to make sure your property is well lit in order to prevent you becoming a crime victim.

I have lived in this area for over 12 years. I have never once heard of a rape on the beach in South Walton or even PCB for that matter.

Why is it that people always have to go to fear to make their point?

WRobert - are they trying to take your puppies away?

I just don't understand why reducing gulf-front light pollution and protecting an endangered species is such a bad thing.

And I don't understand why I have to go to South America to get a decent bowl of turtle soup.

And I don't understand why I have to go to South America to get a decent bowl of turtle soup.

That would be their lack of environmental laws. Could you pick floridagirl up some DDT next time you're down there.

I have lived in this area for over 12 years. I have never once heard of a rape on the beach in South Walton or even PCB for that matter.

Why is it that people always have to go to fear to make their point?

Why take a chance? I tend to err on the side of human safety.

And I don't understand why I have to go to South America to get a decent bowl of turtle soup.

Why take a chance? I tend to err on the side of human safety.

Wouldn't armed patrolmen be more effective?

Wouldn't armed patrolmen be more effective?

Don't the lifeguards cost about 500 grand? imagine what cops would cost. You can pay for alot of lights and electricity with that kind of money.

Perhaps you can explain to a father and mother why their daughter was raped on a beach we advertise as "safe." There is no way to have a safe beach for humans at night without light. Read any risk prevention pamplet you wish ( my insurance company sends them out by the millions) and it will advise you to make sure your property is well lit in order to prevent you becoming a crime victim.

Do we really ADVERTISE safe beaches? It's a beach...it's nature...we can't guarantee its safety. Women are raped in broad daylight all the time.

Perhaps you can explain to a father and mother why their daughter was raped on a beach we advertise as "safe."

so, when and where did this happen?

That would be their lack of environmental laws. Could you pick floridagirl up some DDT next time you're down there.

So we compromise the safety of our citizens to save some turtles that are killed in another country. Is there not some sort of new world order or something that we can join that will attack them issue from a global perspective?

If you really want a bowl of turtle soup and don't require it to come from an endangered species ala "The Freshman", Commander's Palace in Destin seems to frequently have it on the menu there.

As for woman on vacation getting raped, seems like the stories I've heard in these parts involve stairwells in hotels and condo complexes in PCB, and the most recent assailant was a security guard employed by the hotel/condo.

so, when and where did this happen?

There have been quite a few in my lifetime, just among people I know. Several of them were not reported.

If I lived gulf-front, I'd have no problem outfitting my home with turtle-safe lights. I understand that by choosing to live down here, instead of on the acreage my husband owns 12 miles northeast of DeFuniak, there are some "rights" I have to give up so as to be a good neighbor to people and to all of God's critters.

As for woman on vacation getting raped, seems like the stories I've heard in these parts involve stairwells in hotels and condo complexes in PCB, and the most recent assailant was a security guard employed by the hotel/condo.

It's horrible regardless of where it takes place, but that's not the beach...

My point exactly.

So we compromise the safety of our citizens to save some turtles that are killed in another country. Is there not some sort of new world order or something that we can join that will attack them issue from a global perspective?

I wouldn't know, perhaps you should ask some of the higher ups in your party. :roll:

This is such a stringent ordinance I don't how I would ever bring my house into compliance......................

Oh wait, it already complies because it's just common sense and no floodlights! :roll:

In case anyone is interested, now Panama City Beach has a lighting ordinance.

http://www.newsherald.com/news/turtle_70310___article.html/beach_city.html

FYI for those concerned about people falling in the dark and lawsuits if this passes - none of the posted public beach accesses I checked friday had any lights.

I heard the Walton County Wildlife Lighting Ordinance passed last night, but I don't have any details.

I heard the Walton County Wildlife Lighting Ordinance passed last night, but I don't have any details.

I think it's right along the lines of buying a neutered dog to start a puppy mill.

Here's the Daily News article:

Walton reaches light at end of tunnel | light, walton, business - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

I smell a lot of variances.