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While I firmly believe that he who controls the terminology controls the debate, I cannot agree with all of us calling ourselves first responders. In fact, I am pretty certain that in my state the term "first responder" is defined in state statute, and for me to call myself that when I am not a police officer, fireman, or EMT/paramedic would be illegal.
Statutes notwithstanding, IMHO the term "first responder" in general parlance already has an established meaning, and if we try to assume the mantle already worn by those who fit the accepted categories of first responder will only make us look like idiots (at best), or deliberate imposters (at worst).
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