Slamming doors on the hobby because of thieves

[devilantsva]

.Ft. Lee bans personal metal detectors
Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:10 AM EDT Updated: Apr 20, 2012 8:10 AM EDT



PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT) - -

Fort Lee is banning the use of metal detectors on the Petersburg army base.

The policy was just announced this week.

It's intended to preserve historic artifacts on the base that date back to the American Revolution.

The ban is in response to a case at a nearby Civil War battlefield where a Petersburg man was convicted of taking more than 9000 artifacts. He was sentenced to prison.

Copyright 2012 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved


All because some idiot thinks it is alright to steal. Casts a negative light on the hobby. Ft Lee is not part of the battlefield in the article, but has many relics on its land. Now honest people can't hunt the base because of this incident.

 

[Tin Fin]

It's a shame that a few thoughtless people, even if they are specifically held accountable via the law, end up influencing laws that prevent everyone rather than just those few that are doing the harm... a permit, I could understand implementing - then if there is damage or theft, you know who was there and who to pursue; but banning everyone is going too far due to a few.

 

[Critterhunter]

Just like people using shovels or long handled diggers on public land. That's a selfish act that will get us banned at more and more places. If you can't bend down to dig a hole then use a chair or move on to another hobby. That may sound heartless, but no more than say a person who no longer is able to drive due to health problems. For the good of the hobby move on...

I remember reading debates here and there about whether guys should ask permission to hunt people's tree lawns. Some yahoos said they don't need permission because the home owner doesn't own the property. That might be true, but the home owner is taking care of the tree lawn and considers it "theirs". Even though I metal detect I know I'd be p*ssed if I looked out my window and saw somebody digging up my tree lawn without getting my permission.

 

[Ism]

Ft Lee allowed civilians to detect on the base? Unbelievable after the security concerns of 9/11.
Every time I visited my sons (other bases) I had to register with a reason for being there.
I highly doubt detecting would be a valid reason.

 

[GunnarMN]

but just watch they will have a construction project and hall all the dirt to a land fill , that guy should have got permission

 

[Critterhunter]

Check out this thread with pictures of a guy caught using a shovel on public land! Really makes me mad...

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?18,1684368