Commission Approves Manatee Carry Zones
The Hernando County Commission recently discussed an ordinance to create a manatee protection zone. Commissioner Steve Champion suggested that, rather than being defensive, we should enable the manatees to defend themselves. “We need to arm the manatees so they can protect themselves,” he said. He stated this is the first time that the Sierra Club was excited by one of his ideas.
If a manatee is floating there holding a gun, you darn well better believe that the boat driver will slow down and not create a wake, Champion stated. The boater will probably be doing some of the best boating of their life as the manatee eyes them over a 45. Boaters will be perfectly between the channel markers and going well below a speed that would create a wake.
The idea of a manatee carry zone was a hit with the commission, and they approved it unanimously. They discussed extending the idea to other animals. If the deer and bears were armed, hunting would definitely be more exhilarating. But due to concerns put forth by Bethany Anderson, they decided to limit it to manatees and create a manatee carry zone for all the rivers in the county that connect to the Gulf.
The persuasive argument against extending to other animals was the bull sharks with shotguns. If we allow bull sharks to have shotguns, Hollywood would most likely feel the need to make another Sharknado movie about bull sharks armed with shotguns, and that franchise is played out.
