Too bad the Portland Police have no other options than lethal force. They are more like an armed mob than a group trained to "Protect and Serve". There is something basically, fundamentally and seriously wrong with that group which has made it impossible to respect. I never thought I'd say something like that.

(As they were the only one with guns, one would expect no cops got shot.)

How hard is it to get 3 DUIs? Extremely. Only the worst of the worst get that far. I'd vote for a 9 year minimum myself, regarding as the duty of the State to protect the citizenry from gratuitous violence. No one should die because someone else decides to drink and drive.

One can't prove a negative. No one can prove that Judge Crater isn't buried on Sauvie's Island, or Amelia Earhart. They MAY be building a CYA case for investigating all leads thoroughly preperatory to a murder charge without a body, but it seems more likely they're looking for Kyron. But they'll never be able to prove he isn't there unless they find him somewhere else.

Of course they are looking for bones, or teeth. Does anyone think they might be searching for a tent with a child in it? Which means that the Sheriff's statement that there is no evidence for Kyron being dead was simply not true. The fact that he couldn't survive alone for 8 weeks and that the County is spending money on a search for a cadaver is clear evidence. Not proof, but evidence. Sheriff's say the damnedest things!

You'll have to be more specific, I'm afraid. I DO understand that when I was a child I resented any attempt to make me responsible for myself and as an adult I realize that is the greatest freedom one can have.

I do have car insurance partially so that my carelessness does not financially impact others. I have health insurance to prevent my frailities from becoming a public burden. And I climb mountains and am rather fond of the idea that there is a well-funded resource available if I or anyone else on the mountain needs help.

I'll add that in my opinion most mountaineering rescue funds are spent on people who are too damned immature, ill-equipped and inexperienced to be on a mountain (no matter their age) and there is no reason for the general public to pay for their arrogance. And that person will always resent paying.

Considering the cost of equipment, time and travel needed to climb these mountains this is cheap. If one cannot afford these permits my guess is they are skimping on equipment, too, and probably shouldn't be on the mountain. Accidents happen to us all in these environments and it's only reasonable that the cost of rescue/evacuation be covered those of us who participate.