A
Anonymous
Guest
Dear Delegate,
Although I am not in the fine state of VA, I do belong to a metal detecting forum comprised of 1000s of active users from all over our great country, and my feelings about this bill (HB207
are shared among most users on our club site. I would like to make point that, as I have read and understand this bill, it infringes upon our very right to the pursuit of freedom to actively engage in a hobby that millions of Americans across our great country enjoy, and have a right to participate in. If this bill is accepted as presented and passed, this I feel is one step closer in a movement to hinder and even revoke our civil rights in one form or another.
We as hobbyist, collectors, small time treasure hunters, weekend coin hunters, etc. share a passion for the hobby and feel that the bill as presented, is nothing more than a way of repressing us as though in a communist regime, more or less.. It takes away from a free market/democratic society as, I have seen and read some of the comments from these Archaeologist pushing for the bill stating that, relics we find are worth 'said price/s' when in fact, they are so far off base that it's disheartening to say the least, and, they have also made claims as to the general metal detecting public as being plundering, pillaging barbarians who break the law by raiding our treasured historically marked battle fields and the like..
We all know there are those who will always break the law and they should be dealt with accordingly, but, to push for a bill that will take away civil rights of Americans and their children's right to enjoy a hobby that so many do and will in future generations (just because) of the small percent of bad apples, is wrong in my book.. We the hobbyist dedicate much effort in research, foot work, resources, etc. just to once in a while, make an interesting find with one of our detectors (a lot of which are made here in America by Americans) that cost on avg. 700.00 to 1000.00+ dollars. After spending that amount on a detector, spending another 200.00 to 400.00 or more on related equipment such as, little digging tools, special pouches, gloves, accessories for our detector/s, etc. and, after many hours of walking, reading books, maps, etc. etc. plus taking into account the 100s to 1000s of dollars spent to equip ourselves, gas cost, etc. we sometimes find a decent spot to look for an old coin or 2 or maybe an old relic from some farmer 100 years ago, and finally happen upon one or 2 after many hrs of digging many many pieces of scrap iron, nails, pull tabs, etc. (and if we are lucky) after all this and maybe getting 1/2 of the crud, rust, mineral deposits, etc. removed from our find, we have but a $2 to $5 find (on avg.) and sometimes more than not, it is worth nothing because it's so badly rusted, broken, falling apart, etc.
So in close, we ask for you to please vote against this bill, because, we see it as nothing more than described here within and as a way of taking one more step in other states following until the hobby is non existent and can only be told in story to our children and grand children..
Thank you,
Sincerely
Wayne Sollner
Although I am not in the fine state of VA, I do belong to a metal detecting forum comprised of 1000s of active users from all over our great country, and my feelings about this bill (HB207
are shared among most users on our club site. I would like to make point that, as I have read and understand this bill, it infringes upon our very right to the pursuit of freedom to actively engage in a hobby that millions of Americans across our great country enjoy, and have a right to participate in. If this bill is accepted as presented and passed, this I feel is one step closer in a movement to hinder and even revoke our civil rights in one form or another.We as hobbyist, collectors, small time treasure hunters, weekend coin hunters, etc. share a passion for the hobby and feel that the bill as presented, is nothing more than a way of repressing us as though in a communist regime, more or less.. It takes away from a free market/democratic society as, I have seen and read some of the comments from these Archaeologist pushing for the bill stating that, relics we find are worth 'said price/s' when in fact, they are so far off base that it's disheartening to say the least, and, they have also made claims as to the general metal detecting public as being plundering, pillaging barbarians who break the law by raiding our treasured historically marked battle fields and the like..
We all know there are those who will always break the law and they should be dealt with accordingly, but, to push for a bill that will take away civil rights of Americans and their children's right to enjoy a hobby that so many do and will in future generations (just because) of the small percent of bad apples, is wrong in my book.. We the hobbyist dedicate much effort in research, foot work, resources, etc. just to once in a while, make an interesting find with one of our detectors (a lot of which are made here in America by Americans) that cost on avg. 700.00 to 1000.00+ dollars. After spending that amount on a detector, spending another 200.00 to 400.00 or more on related equipment such as, little digging tools, special pouches, gloves, accessories for our detector/s, etc. and, after many hours of walking, reading books, maps, etc. etc. plus taking into account the 100s to 1000s of dollars spent to equip ourselves, gas cost, etc. we sometimes find a decent spot to look for an old coin or 2 or maybe an old relic from some farmer 100 years ago, and finally happen upon one or 2 after many hrs of digging many many pieces of scrap iron, nails, pull tabs, etc. (and if we are lucky) after all this and maybe getting 1/2 of the crud, rust, mineral deposits, etc. removed from our find, we have but a $2 to $5 find (on avg.) and sometimes more than not, it is worth nothing because it's so badly rusted, broken, falling apart, etc.
So in close, we ask for you to please vote against this bill, because, we see it as nothing more than described here within and as a way of taking one more step in other states following until the hobby is non existent and can only be told in story to our children and grand children..
Thank you,
Sincerely
Wayne Sollner