Danger to Metal Detecting in Florida

[kurtallen]

I just received this message on the Minelab Forum and would like to pass it on:

William Gillraker-Guerre 9:16pm Feb 27
Attention all treasure hunters. This Florida senator has just signed off on a bill that was passed under the cover of night, which would make it illegal to metal detect in the state of Florida, including private property, beaches, etc. Please visit his facebook page and let him know how you feel about this bill... Remember, this is the gateway to your state, next. If we do not stand together now, united, we shall fall one at a time, state by state. I strongly urge each and everyone of you to visit his facebook page and let your voice be heard, now, before our beloved pastime becomes as much a part of history as the relics we find, preserve and share with the world.
The Senator is Alan Hays

 

[ronfin]

I need a link or more proof that this is true. It seems fishy. Illegal to metal detect in the entire State? Just seems bogus. Any other literature to backup your story?

 

[usafaviator]

Wow, if this is correct WTF is happening to this great country?

 

[ronfin]

I think it's true. Been doing my own searches. This doesn't look good for Florida, or the rest of the country if this idiotic mentality is allowed to persist. What the heck are they doing?

 

[mike4663]

DNR did this in wisconsin a couple years ago, no one new a bill was in the works to stop all metal detecting in any DNR controlled land and lakes and rivers.

 

[Hytinaerhi]

Metal detecting is basically illegal in some countries (Ireland and Sweden come to mind), so I don't see why this couldn't happen in some US states as well.

 

[TheMarshall]

Metal detecting is basically illegal in some countries (Ireland and Sweden come to mind, ........ok...facts noted...


so I don't see why this couldn't happen in some US states as well.........?????

[size=large]The last sentence infers that you wouldn't oppose the senator's efforts to ban metal detecting?...[/size]

Am I misinterpreting your post?...............TheMarshall​

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[Blank Planet]

what happens too all the people who will be stuck with worthless detectors that they spent 1000's of $ on? the end is nigh best to sell while you can still get something for your machines, its very sad i must say and the more our rights are taken away the closer war becomes people will have nothing left to do but fight back

its not a good sign for our detecting future

BP

 

[gunwolf]

Not saying it's true here, But I am a strong 2nd amend supporter..most of the people who own firearms complain alot, but don't vote...they do not have the right to complain.
so I am willing to bet that some who whine about this MD ban probably arent even registered to vote...stand up, write, E-mail, but you better be registered to vote or basically your just farting in the wind.

 

[Sailorman]

This bill is a long way from becoming law. It hasn't made it through both houses yet and then it has to cross the governors desk. Many of us are making a stink and yes, I vote. It also does not ban metal detecting in the state as some are rumoring. It is a step in the wrong direction as far as many of us are concerned.

The fight is on and we'll see how it goes.

 

[Hytinaerhi]

Am I misinterpreting your post?...............TheMarshall

As a hobbyist I'm obviously very much against any sort of legislation that would ban metal detecting. English isn't my first language so I'm sorry for not making myself clear there.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

"It also does not ban metal detecting in the state as some are rumoring..."

But you know if you aledge that people are mis-understanding this, you are going to be labeled as an md'r who just doesn't care. Or they'll shout you down and say "don't listen to sailorman, as he doesn't know what he's talking about", etc...

It's almost as if ..... human nature simply wants to believe the worst, eh? Example of this human nature: if you tell someone that another person you both know just won the lottery, human nature is to disbelieve it (till proven otherwise), right? However, if you were to say that that person just got accused of child molesting, human nature is to believe it (till proven otherwise). See how that works? In the same way people don't read the text, and jump to the worst degree, and assume that the worst possible scenarios, must therefore be the true ones. It must be some sort of human nature to believe in bad news options. And if you go to un-ravel the legal language, you will just be shouted down.

 

[Sailorman]

I agree that there is cause for concern as Florida bureaucracies have a long and dishonorable history of overstepping their bounds. As a live aboard sailor we've had years long battles just trying to preserve our rights in the state. Every time a little compromise was given the state took a galactic sector. So yes, it's worth fighting about just from the creeping control this state likes to engage in. But it's still a long way from being a law yet.

 

[bob.oz]

The gov of Florida is Rick(the dick) Scott......I AM CONCERENED

 

[Sailorman]

The gov of Florida is Rick(the dick) Scott......I AM CONCERENED

Yeah, our last election was the choice between bad and really bad. Either way it stunk.

 

[McDean]

Damn shame if something like this persists.... and it wont stop with taking away our hobbies.

What happened to "of the people, by the people, for the people"? If our forefathers wanted "laws" for us like this.... it would probably have read like... "our way so STFU"

 

[Ken in Georgia]

Hey, is not kellyco in business down there? we need them to get on the band wagon !!!!! Let's call them too....

 

[mike4663]

In Wisconsin the DNR does not want the average joe to have anything of historic value. If you loose something in a state park in Wi. you can get a permit to metal detect/find it but all other items must be turned over to the DNR. There permit will state what you are looking for, its just stupid , because if a person with a detector cant find/is not allowed to find historic items there lost forever. Just makes no sense.

 

[TerryR]

The guy is now scrambling on his facebook page and saying it isn't so. He's a politician so he know what is good for all. There is only one thing worse that is the voter that keeps voting for these people. Send guys like this home

 

[Tom_in_CA]

mike, you say:

"..... lost forever. Just makes no sense."

Well an archie would just respond to your statement in the following way: "In 10,000 yrs, the FUTURE generation may come do a dig, on this exact spot, and you will have deprived them from intrepetting and knowing their past", blah blah blah

There is a true story of a lady archie who was walking down an east coast beach one day. She saw a guy metal detecting, and came up and read him the riot act (I forget what entity controlled the particular beach the md'r was on). When the guy tried to ask her how he was doing anything illegal, she started citing historic preservation, archaeological specimen stuff, etc... When the md'r realized she was talking about antiquities type verbage, he gleefully pulled open his apron, and showed her that all he had was clad, and was .... in fact .... just angling for modern jewelry.

The lady archie was taken aback by the md'rs answer, and she stumbled for words. After composing herself and thinking a moment, she then replied "well maybe it's not an archaeological item NOW, but you are robbing future generations of knowing their past". I kid you not! This actually happened!