Enforce law

Dear Editor,

I can sympathize with Kevin Dunn's concern over the ponds located at Barnett Park.

There is not a soul among us who doesn't regret any loss of life. But I am a firm believer in personal responsibility.

It's amazing to me that the last three incidents that I am aware of concerned adults falling through the ice.

I remember, as I'm sure most do, our parents telling us to stay off the ice. I'm not saying if my pet fell through the ice that I wouldn't go in after her. To be honest I probably would. This would be a decision I make and I would be accountable for the outcome.

The same is true in regards to children. It is the parents' responsibility to protect and educate their children to the dangers of freezing water.

If we as citizens think it's the city's or government's responsibility to keep us off the ice at Barnett Park, then we should use the same logic and demand they place a fence around all the area lakes.

Without much research, I can tell you that drowning deaths in open water far outnumber death due to falling through the ice.

In closing, I think it needs to be mentioned that there is a leash law in effect at the park.

This law is no different than the law requiring children to wear life preservers while on a boat. Unfortunately it's when these kinds of laws are not observed that accidents happen.

Kirt Matson

McCook