A Tucson, Arizona city firefighter refused to respond to the January 8 shooting spree that critically injured Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Daily Star reported, citing city memos. His refusal may have slowed the Tucson Fire Department unit's response to the incident that also left six dead and 13 wounded.
Fire Captain Ben Williams wrote in a memo that when firefighter Mark Ekstrum declined to go on the call, "he mentioned something about 'political bantering' and he did not want to be part of it." Williams told Ekstrum he could not refuse a call for that reason, and then talked to the firefighter privately in his office. He said Ekstrum "started to say something about how he had a much different political viewpoint than the rest of the crew and he was concerned." Despite being told that was not acceptable, Williams said Ekstrum informed him he was going home "sick," so they answered the call without him.
Ekstrum's supervisor initially claimed his actions caused "confusion and delay"-- although the fire department later backtracked on that statement. However, one of the fire engines had to stop at another fire station along the way to pick up personnel to take Ekstrum's place. Ekstrum (a 28-year veteran) quit the force two days later as management was considering possible disciplinary action against him.
Frankly, I'm sick of all these religious zealots and political wacktivists who willingly enter life-saving professions and then refuse to do their jobs out of some selfish and misguided personal motivations. If you don't want to prescribe birth control, assist a doctor in performing an emergency abortion, or respond to a shooting of a democratic politician . . . then don't become a pharmacist/nurse/EMT to being with!
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