More conservative communities of Amish that live in Wisconsin are butting up against government rules and regulations. This has been an oft-repeated battle as more and more Amish move to new, unfamiliar areas. In some Amish settlements, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are welcome, in others they are not. This battle has been fought in Upstate New York, rural Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Iowa. Now it is Wisconsin. Click here to read the latest. What do you think? Should a family be permitted to forgo smoke detectors if they have a religious objection to the technology?
Tammy
Everyone should have a smoke detector in their home. I do not see why a battery smoke detector would be against religious beliefs, they would not be on the "grid" so to speak, so why oppose it? Something that is so simple that can save lives should be required.
Howard Billig
As a professional firefighter, I too often see the consequences of not having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. I respect the beliefs of all people, but would have difficulty justifying to myself the loss of life due to not allowing something that could save a life. I guess not being Amish, I don't understand the objection and possibly would think differently if I was. Also, most people don't consider what a firefighter/EMT goes thru mentally when faced with death or serious injury to those we are trying to help. Not having these detectors allows fires to progress further before being noticed which causes firefighters to face a more dangerous situation as opposed to if it was noticed sooner. So even though a person makes a decision for themselves, I would think if that decision could effect the life and safety of others, some consideration should be given to that. Again, I respect the beliefs of the Amish but do think there are some things that could be compromised on without losing religious freedom. I hope I don't seem unsympathetic and anti-Amish because I am, as kevin, interested in and respectful of not only the Amish but all plain people.
Carol
Either we have religious freedom or we don't. Smoke detectors can be good but if they violate someone's conscience then the government has no business forcing them to have one. If they were renting the house to non-Amish folks or using it as a B&B or something then I could see the need for them. But if the government is going to be free to keep pushing more and more into what is and is not "allowed" to be exempt for religious beliefs then how much "freedom" do we really have?
Helen
I think everyone should have smoke detector. You just never know when there could be a fire and the smoke detector would warn and save them.
Dawn
It's like the Swartzentrubers (sp) & their stance against safety reflectors on the buggies. They believe that God ordains the moment of their deaths..
Wendy
God knows the moment of our death. That moment will come regardless of a smoke or carbon monoxide detector. That being said, God also calls man to be wise and not a fool. A smoke alarm is a great deal different than an automobile and electricity. I do not understand the stand against them... unless they are afraid of members taking up chain smoking.
Diana H
Having been born under the sign of Libra, I can see both sides of the question, however,
from a safety standpoint, I would say yes they should be required and as Tammy has
expressed, they do not require "electricity" but only a battery which needs to be changed
once a year.
I am sure Lovina and her family would have some input into this question having experienced
a fire in their home this past year. And I read of an Amish family, (I don't remember which
state they lived in) whose whole house and most of the family burned in a fire. A fire
detector making its loud unpleasant noise, surely would have alerted some of the adults
and likely saved several lives.
Missy
Well, you may be destined to die in a tornado, but shouldn't stop you from going to the basement. A smoke detector is such a small thing that saves lives. If God has chosen your time, a smoke detector won't help anyway!
Mary
Kevin, I love the Amish the strong, dedicated people that they are, but they use other devices run off batteries, so I don't understand why they would object to these. As the others said, heating with wood/ coal is a safety thing anyway, Is it the Bishop who would make that decision? There are soooo many little ones that need to be kept safe. I hope who ever the decision lays on, will reconsider!!!!!
Mary