[samtheman]

bvw:

Try to calm down and think about this:

One think for a quick fly over the countryside, quite another to fly into such 'dangerous waters' so to speak and then not have the communication line open. NO EXCUSE The powers that be must punish this stupidity. If the runaway bride is going to be fined for the cost of her search, then surely this instructor needs to be fined, big time, for the costs to our government for his disregard for safety.---OldFriend

Please explain to me (without getting so excited) how OldFriend is wrong here.

[bvw]

Why should the Runaway Bride be fined at all? People wander off, grooms and brides-to-be scoot away in the days right before -- it was the choice of the authorities to mount a search, Willibanks did not request it, nor could she or anyone else in her shoes prior to that circus have reasonably forseen all the official interest in that kind of a case. The normal course of events in such cases -- and they happen every day -- is much quieter and private.

The fine, as best I understand, is ridiculous. Mob hysteria.