I just used PayPal to donate $100.00 to the Bob and Ed Fundraiser event... Please Read...

[Anonymous]

For those of you who want to help your hobby and let these two actually have a real defense attorney please go to PayPal and send your donations in $20 amounts to: donkey3183@prodigy.net (Make sure you pick quasi-cash and make a note it's for Bob and Ed's fundraiser in the subject line.)
For every $20 donation you have a chance to win a detector donated by the metal detecting companies. Some gave outright cash to the fight while others gave detectors for this raffle. Believe me most of the biggies were quite helpful.
I personally challenge the other forums out there to match or embarrass our $100.00 donation. Of course my kids expect to win so expect nothing else. <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
But do please help. It could be you in their situation next time. What if you're on a vacation and one of your kids picks up a detector in the camper not knowing the no no's of wherever you're at since the new enforcement era is being allowed to continue. You could be losing your camper, car, etc. plus all the legal fees on some out of state nightmare. Think it couldn't happen? Had any kids sneaking on your home computer to download songs? See any of the record company lawsuits agains even unwed mothers lately?
Give it some thought and then donate... Guvner..

 

[Anonymous]

I have normally agreed with most anything you guys have come up with, but not in this case. Cash is being solicited to assist two grown men, not children. I have read the entire mess, piece by piece as it was dolt out to the people in fragments. For months, they did not even have the courtesy to answer peoples questions on the various forums.... The same people who are now being asked to pay for the defense team that they should have originally paid for. I have a question for you...Would you have been caught detecting in that particular location without written permission? Would you have taken the ridiculous advice from residents that the locked bar gate didn't mean anything and to go around it...everybody does it? I don't buy any of it and after reading what's available on the issue, it seems more to me that some folks are more interested in seeing a couple buddies or fellow detectorists "Beat the System", rather than see justice done. Our hobby, sport, passion or whatever word you choose to call it is swamped with these type of negative events. To support the stupidity of these two guys in beating the system is just one more black eye on our hobby as far as I see it. They got off relatively easy and now run a chance to set further precedent that will make detecting even more restrictive on all of us. HH...in bona fide legal places with no surrounding questionable issues at hand...there are plenty of such places!

 

[Anonymous]

The "hobby" has done more to hurt itself than help itself in this entire issue by not supporting the extisting laws and regulations instead of making a public circus of the entire affair by showing the world that "detectorists" believe more in the good-ole-boy system more than using common sense and doing what is right. As Mike has stated, the detecting public has been spoon fed just what it is intended for them to know, rather than the whole story. Several "concerns" (and I use the term very loosely) never show their faces or names until one of these "something to support" campaigns comes along, and then they are all over the forums begging for donations "for the cause". I just have to wonder how much of these "defense funds" and the like go to "administration costs" and how much actually gets to the intended target. Too often these days, "the cause" seems to be down on his luck or out of work when the next fund raiser is trumped up to help some disadvantaged whoever or whatever for not using their common sense in the first place.
Wake up and smell the coffee folks !

 

[Anonymous]

FACT SHEET
Unauthorized Archaeological Excavation - Lake Whitney
U.S. District Court Case, Western District of Texas, WACO Division
COURT DECISION / CURRENT STATUS. On 2 March 2004, a jury at the U.S.
District Court in Waco, Texas, convicted Mr. Edward A. Brown and Mr. Bobby L.
Sullivan for unauthorized excavation of archaeological resources at Lake Whitney,
Texas. The jury convicted both parties in less than one hour of deliberations. Sentencing
under ARPA guidelines was set for 21 April 2004 at Ft. Hood Texas.
CASE SPECIFICS.
(a) Violation - 16 U.S.C. 470 ee(a), Unauthorized Archaeological Excavation;
and 36 C.F.R. 327.14(a) Destruction, Defacement or Alteration of Public Property.
(b) Count One - On 6 September 2003, the defendants, Mr. Brown and Mr. Sullivan
aided and abetted each other, did excavate an archaeological resource located on public
lands and did so without a permit issued under Title 16.
(c) Count Two - Mr. Brown and Mr. Sullivan did destroy public property by digging
holes without permission of the District Commander in violation of Title 36.
POSITIVE RESULTS. The Fort Worth District, Lake Whitney, and Park Ranger Brady
Dempsey have done a commendable job in preparing for this case and supporting the
U.S. Attorney in obtaining a favorable decision for the U.S. Government. There has been
a libelous smear campaign against the ranger, prosecutor, and the government in general
on several internet treasure-hunter sites. All concerned maintained a professional
approach in following this case through to completion. In addition, Ranger Brady
Dempsey will receive an Award of Merit from the Texas Historical Commission (THC)
for his work on the Fort Graham ARPA case. The presentation will take place 5 May 04
at the THC's Archeology Committee Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas.
BACKGROUND (Park Ranger Dempsey

 

[Anonymous]

I appreciate it, and it supports my personal opinion of this topic. No $$$ help from this guy.
<EM><STRONG>Monte

 

[Anonymous]

For many weeks all of us tried to get more info about the case and our requests went ignored. Those two individuals should have come on this forum to explain the issues.
If, in fact, they did go around a locked gate, then they have a problem.
This issue is not as clear cut as some would like it to be.

 

[Anonymous]

Check the link below to a post on Findmall's Detecting forum.
JB

 

[Anonymous]

I don