After the death of Mary Jagoda '05 and Sarah Aronoff last semester, Masachusetts State Representative Shirley Gomes (R) has filed a Mary Jagoda/Sarah Aronoff Safety Amendment to require that life jackets be worn by kayakers year round. The bill is co-sponsored by State Senator Robert O'Leary (D).The legislation was given a late docket number and it is unknown when it will be discussed. The bill was proposed by Harwich Harbormaster Thomas Leach.

Leach said he is optimistic about the bill being passed but worries that since some people feel their liberties are being compromised the bill will lack some support.

"Mary was not wearing a life-jacket," Leach said. "That may have brought her some time. If they had worn a life-jacket, it would have most likely had a whistle and the girls would have most likely been found in the fog."

Leach said that before Jagoda and Aronoff, he had been able to find people in the fog because of whistles.

Leach proposes that all kayakers wear a Coast Gaurd approved life vest equipped with a campus and a whistle.

According to Leach, the bill has the support of the Massachusetts harbormasters.

"There are several talk shows on Cape Cod that are saying the bill would take away from our liberties to choose not to wear a life-jacket. But Mary and Sarah could have survived if they had worn life-jackets. Life is more important.