CEMETERIES ??

[silversmith]

And one more thing, Smokers usually don't smoke at graveyards. Smokers loose at least 90% of all coins lost (fumbling for their Zippos). Most don't light up til they're back in their cars. But, please go spend your time there. More places for me to look!

 

[Rivermarine1]

aye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[edjcox]

No way!

Disrespectful of the dead and the living who might happen upon you there.... No matter what you say in the mind of these relatives your just a looter...

Lots of other places for sure....

 

[Cherokeefan68]

I responded to this thread when it was new and my feelings haven't changed. I am often asked by co-workers that know that I detect why I won't hunt in a cemetery. My answer is always the same, I don't hunt there out of respect. I don't see any difference in hunting a "new" graveyard or one that has been "lost". I was brought up that cemeteries are hallowed ground and should be treated with respect.

When I was a teenager, my friends and I were accused of vandalizing a large local cemetery near where we lived. We were accused because it was where we would hang out and talk late into the nights on weekends. The vandals dug into graves, broke grave markers that were over 150 yrs old, and they even stole one. When the vandals were caught, the local police apologized to us and our families. My friends and I knew the people that vandalized the cemetery we found out later, and they knew that my group of friends hung out in that area and that we would be blamed. I NEVER, EVER want that kind of attention directed at me again. I haven't lived in that town for over 20 years, and every once in awhile we hear about it again, OVER 20 YEARS later.

During the short time we were blamed, we were treated as outcasts, (I was in high school) and we were even threatened by members of our community.

There are many, much better places to hunt than in a burial ground. Not withstanding the moral issues, I can't understand why you would even consider hunting there.

 

[jimjimmyjames]

At first I wanted to be buried with syringes and and barb wire to keep folks from digging me up. Now I am think land mines might be in order. If I ever catch somebody detecting in a graveyard, I will make them dig their own hole with a Lesche tool....

 

[rconderman]

Here is a quote from earlier in the discussion...........

Often cemeteries are located near where old churches used to be - so I would suggest that you not detect in the actual cemetery but do a bit of historical research (look up old parish maps etc.) to see if there were nearby any old buildings etc. associated with the cemetery, then try and detect around those old building sites if possible.



My thoughts are as follows:

What I find awfully peculiar is that the same folks who ridicule others for digging in the "hallowed grounds" of a cemetery are also the same folks digging in the "hallowed grounds" of a church yard. I suspect that the reason you find it blasphemous to dig in a cemetery is because you believe in God in one way or another and want to honor the ones he has taken home to be with him. If my suspicion is correct then it leaves to wonder why you would dig in and around God's house, which is also in my Christian opinion sacred. That reeks of hypocrisy and bigotry. If you read and believe the bible then you will know that God gives us dominion over the land and the sea, as well as the beasts and birds of the earth. It is interesting to note how many people don't think through their responses before they just spout off in anger.

And one more thought - I am not sure where the threats of violence started but I don't appreciate someone telling me they would make me dig my own grave. That is a completely class-less thing to do. One thing I am quite sure of is that none of my postings contain any thing close to threats of violence. I would love for you to be face to face with me and tell me you are going to make me dig my own grave. I am quite sure you wouldn't even think of saying those types of things to me if I was facing you one on one. You have absolutely no class and definitely lack the maturity of a grown adult. Others opinion should be able to be expressed without the threat of being physically harmed. Go ahead, read my previous notes and study them closely, and then tell me where I came even remotely close to making a threat to anyone. I think you will find my messages quite responsible, respectful and courteous - they are just different from what you think or believe. Honestly, please grow up before you challenge someone who is far superior to you intellectually. You really ticked me off when you threw in threats of violence, please don't do that again.

 

[Cherokeefan68]

Here is a quote from earlier in the discussion...........

Often cemeteries are located near where old churches used to be - so I would suggest that you not detect in the actual cemetery but do a bit of historical research (look up old parish maps etc.) to see if there were nearby any old buildings etc. associated with the cemetery, then try and detect around those old building sites if possible.



My thoughts are as follows:

What I find awfully peculiar is that the same folks who ridicule others for digging in the "hallowed grounds" of a cemetery are also the same folks digging in the "hallowed grounds" of a church yard. I suspect that the reason you find it blasphemous to dig in a cemetery is because you believe in God in one way or another and want to honor the ones he has taken home to be with him. If my suspicion is correct then it leaves to wonder why you would dig in and around God's house, which is also in my Christian opinion sacred. That reeks of hypocrisy and bigotry. If you read and believe the bible then you will know that God gives us dominion over the land and the sea, as well as the beasts and birds of the earth. It is interesting to note how many people don't think through their responses before they just spout off in anger.

For the record I don't hunt churchyards either.. I make use of old Sanborn Fire Maps of the towns in my area to find old town and building sites. I like to hunt old school sites and rail yards.. Getting permission sometimes can be challenging though..

 

[jimjimmyjames]

I didn't threaten you, I made a statement about what my future actions will be. Your juvenile response contained a direct threat to me. If you felt threatened, that is your weakness I guess. I feel that grave sites are private property. Every plot is leased by the respective owner and their rights should be honored. I feel that those who are desperate enough to go out and steal from the dead and grieving should be punished. The day I find you, I might threaten you. Until then, I feel that your bad actions threaten the entire hobby. I guess that if you can steal from the dead and live with yourself, you will get whats coming to you in the afterlife.

 

[jimjimmyjames]

According to our local D.A., the groundskeeper of a cemetery has no authority to give permission to dig on the grounds. He said, "That would make our job a lot easier in terms of exhuming the deceased for case work". In no uncertain terms, it is illegal to dig in a graveyard. If the court needs an official Court Order to exhume a John Doe, you defiantly need more than the groundskeepers permission to dig on a plot. He would not hesitate to prosecute anyone for desecrating a grave regardless of who "gave" them permission. That is enough for me. It is morally and legally wrong. The end.

 

[bossman]

In texas its against the law period

 

[loki]

Yes I wrote that - points to note:

1. I've never ridiculed anyone about anything (so you were wrong there).
2. I carefully considered my response and wasn't angry (so you were wrong there)
3. I've never detected a cemetery or churchyard (so you were wrong there)

Why are you picking on me?

You missed the point entirely - a cemetery is usually built near a church and a church is usually built near a community, and therefore *near* a cemetery is often a good place to hunt due to all the other community activity in the area over the years.

Some Christians seem to be very quick to rush to judgement without the facts before them, it seems to me.

Btw, on Time Team there are often digs done in the grounds of old churches and monastaries - in some episodes the Time Team crew have been called in by the clergy themselves! Interesting...

 

[#1RAMROD]

OK I am new here, but feel the need to chime in on this.

Jimjimmyjames
What you said was a threat! It may not of been a direct threat such as Joe Blow I will make you dig your own grave, but was a threat in general, and should be unacceptable.

rconderman
Your last paragraph only served to instigate the matter further, this also should be unacceptable.

The best thing to do is report it to an administrator and ignore the comment other wise the subject will be lost in a mass of flaming posts and insults. We will never all agree on the same thing that is life, what we can do is disagree, debate, and discuss in an adult manner, even anger can be displayed without threats, or taunting one another.

Again I am a newbie to this board and the hobby, reading this has given me second thoughts about the board, all should remember this when typing comments/posts out, what would some one new to the hobby think about what I am saying, would it intimidate them preventing them from asking a question or worse quit reading completely and head out to be just a hole digger, or would it make them think about morals and ethic's.

If I have offended anyone I do apologize, this is just my take on things.

 

[jimjimmyjames]

Rod, it really wasn't meant as a threat to him. I did not read his earlier post. I figured this was a thread to gripe about the useless few who choose to steal from the grieving. Had I realized that there was a lowlife grave robber here, I might have phrased it differently. It was meant as a rant, not as a threat. So this is the better course of action. If I see anyone detecting in a cemetery, I will call take some photographs of the desecrator and call the police. Just in case the grave robber in question is buddies with the police department, I will insist they send my complaint to the D.A. for review. Anyone involved in the court system(D.A.s and judges) would immediately know that digging in cemeteries is wrong, and the souless thief will get what is coming to them. Granted, the types of criminals who would be digging in cemeteries might see my camera and try to rob me. I guess the second amendment will protect me from that threat as well.

 

[rconderman]

There are some things I should clarify:

First of all to Loki - my second paragraph was not directed at you but to jimjimmyjames. He was the one making the threats. That's my fault for not clarifying.

Secondly - I have had a lot of people tell me that they don't even need permission to hunt a churchyard, let alone consider it a morally bad decision. I believe they justified it as the churchyard was public property or something....... which I am not sure if that is true. I understand that you were only mentioning it in your note and not saying that you had hunted around churches. I guess it was because you did mention it that led me to believe you thought it was okay. If I misunderstood that then I stand corrected. You seem to be a cool, mature dude so thanks for the admonishment.

Also - once again Mr. Jimjimmyjadrool (google jadrool for the definition there hotshot, that's payback for the lowlife tag you gave me) has found a way to threaten me again. Except this time there seems to be a gun showing up under his second amendment rights. That's just great. I sure hope that was just a fictional excerpt. Let me make this clear, because I am only gonna say it once, you had better stop making those types of comments or I WILL take it to the authorities. I am not going to let you threaten me again there Mr tough guy so watch yourself or I will get the proper authorities involved. I am the father of three young children and I do not appreciate anyone making comments with harmful overtones in them so back off.

I should also make it clear that I do not back down from anyone so Rod your suggestion to just ignore it was really not an option. As I was not the initial aggressor and felt my safety was compromised, I will take the necessary steps to protect myself. It really would be a much different story if I had started with the threats and posted messages that contain such harmful comments, but I didn't, he did. I showed up to this forum to offer an opinion in a kind, respectful manner, which I did, and I was met with this type of behavior. I certainly did not show up to start fights, which apparently is Jiminycricket's forte. I agree that my viewpoints are controversial, but they are mine and I will not apologize for them. One thing I do know is that if a person can't listen to someone Else's thoughts (even if they are opposed to their own) without loosing control of their temper then maybe they don't belong at all. Again, please refrain from making comments that contain violent remarks, that's not what I am here for.

So anyway moving on........ Here's some success!!! I was about two hours away from my house yesterday hunting in a small town near the Pa. border and I found the following: 1909S Indian Head penny with full liberty visible!!!! Not bad for a days work!! Sold it to a friend's dad who owns a coin and jewelry shop for $1300. I think God must have wanted to punish me for being such a bad person. And yes it was an abandoned pioneer cemetery where I found it. Right near the front gates and 75 feet from the nearest head stone. I guess tough luck for you there Big Jimmers - no grave robbing going on here buddy.

So seriously, can we move on from the fighting and just get back to talking about what we have been finding as treasure hunters???? I use a Minelab SE with a WOT coil and I am finding that I am getting coins from sites that other people have hunted for years because my coil reaches deeper then theirs. I was at the site of an old hotel and amusement park, stuck way back in the woods. I went with some friends and they were warning me that probably everything had been found. After 45 minutes I had three IH pennies and two barber dimes added to my collection. No one bothered to go there with anything larger than an 8" coil because of the overgrowth. But I took a chance and it paid off. We have tons of old cellar holes and long forgotten public sites where I live so I should have more success this season. How about you guys??

 

[jimjimmyjames]

Can you read? I never threatened you with a gun. I guess that would make you a liar as well as a thief. I was talking about protecting myself from grave robbers. It's right up their in black and white. I am sure that the pukes who are low enough to steal from the dead would rob their own mother to buy a pack of Lucky Strikes(a generalization). Actually, I have never threatened YOU at all. I have only made general statements about anyone who feels that trespassing and stealing are acceptable. Now on to you. I am sorry three children are being raised by a dishonest, thieving, father with such low morals. Pioneer cemeteries contain many unmarked graves, so your being 75 feet away from the nearest headstone doesn't buy you any brownie points here. Now, this is the Bounty Hunter forum. Take your Minelab to the Minelab forum. I am done wasting my time with such bologna.