Want to get an idea why we cant detect in public state park areas.. these people right here..

[TN Mike]

Follow the link and read...

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?35479-Metal-detecting-in-Kentucky-State-Parks

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Sure. And who are the "these people" you refer to ? Archies there, of course. That was a fun read to see the anti-thesis of a metal detecting forum. Ala multiple archies on a forum lamenting about md'rs (gasp) detecting. And the ask yourself: What put it on all-those-archies plates as something to get their panties in a wad ? The bill to "allow" metal detecting at state parks. Therefore, if you ask me, publicity and seeking express allowances, often simply only puts us out there as giant red X bullseyes in need of "pressing attention".

So the less those archies think about us, the better. The everage one of those type purists on that forum will likely never be out in the field and see an md'r in the first place. So if the only thing this bill, and/or any attention that involves archies does, is simply results in more awareness (amongst the other rank and file) of the supposed laws or rules that could be applied to us.

And by the way, it doesn't scare me one bit to read those type archie chit-chats. Because go figure: archies by their very nature hate md'rs, and will paint the most "dire picture" of the hobby that they can. So I take little of what they say with a grain of salt. Example:

If you were to ask a P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) "Can I leave my bunny in the car while I run into 7-11 for a slurpee?". What would they say ? They'd shriek "NNOOOOO! You can be arrested for animal cruelty! The animal will suffer in the hot sun ! Your car can be confiscated ! You will go to jail! How can you be so cruel!!??" But seriously now: does anyone else really care , except for a few animal rights wackos extremists? Of course not! So too do I put little stock into what some archies say about md'ing.

 

[chuck ky]

I live in Kentucky and this is the first I've heard about this. the vote took place in early 2012 so I guess it didn't pass.. I would think that Perryville would be a national park so it wouldn't have been affected by the bill.

 

[ironsight]

Far as i can tell, that is a Civil War re-enactor's website. Almost became one myself way back when, even picked up a 3-band Enfield musket but lose interest somewhere along the way.

Only thing that would make sense with the anti-MDing attitudes of the guys on that thread is that they are either amateur Historians, History teachers, Arch'ies, etc.
Their big beef appears to be only MDing on State land where CW battles or major skirmishes took place. I myself can half way see their point of view if thats the case.

Being a CW buff, i've been to many of the CW battlefield sites/re-enactments including Gettysburg. I can't imagine opening up the National Gettysburg Battlefield Park to metal detecting. IMO, it is indeed hallowed ground with likely many fallen still buried there in unmarked graves.
But on the other hand, i'm sure there are/has been archy digs going on there, hallowed ground or not. Whats good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

I'd think many rank&file CW re-enactors metal detect themselves for Civil War relics but on private property outside the main battlefield parks or encampments.

 

[PSS1963]

Far as i can tell, that is a Civil War re-enactor's website. Almost became one myself way back when, even picked up a 3-band Enfield musket but lose interest somewhere along the way.

Only thing that would make sense with the anti-MDing attitudes of the guys on that thread is that they are either amateur Historians, History teachers, Arch'ies, etc.
Their big beef appears to be only MDing on State land where CW battles or major skirmishes took place. I myself can half way see their point of view if thats the case.

Being a CW buff, i've been to many of the CW battlefield sites/re-enactments including Gettysburg. I can't imagine opening up the National Gettysburg Battlefield Park to metal detecting. IMO, it is indeed hallowed ground with likely many fallen still buried there in unmarked graves.
But on the other hand, i'm sure there are/has been archy digs going on there, hallowed ground or not. Whats good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

I'd think many rank&file CW re-enactors metal detect themselves for Civil War relics but on private property outside the main battlefield parks or encampments.

I think ironsight makes a good point . . . there are sites which are too historically significant to allow untrained folk to remove things without regard to their context or importance, but those aren't all the sites - all state parks for instance. I think they should have to make a good case for why a site is important and why we shouldn't be allowed to detect there, rather than us have to make a case for why we should.

-pete

 

[Tom_in_CA]

. . . . there are sites which are too historically significant to allow untrained folk to remove things without regard to their context or importance, but those aren't all the sites - all state parks for instance. I think they should have to make a good case for why a site is important and why we shouldn't be allowed to detect there, rather than us have to make a case for why we should.......

Sure. A whole host of state and national parks are not sacred hallowed sensitive monuments. Hence you're thinking "why can't they just set aside those few areas and few parks that ARE historically sensitive monuments, and disallow md'ing *only* at them. Right ? Ah but the devil is in the details. Put yourself in their shoes: Do you really think they want to spend the time splitting hairs over exactly where you can, and can't, detect ? Ask yourself what the easier solution is? : To say "no md'ing at all". Presto, problem solved. No "camel's noses in the tent", no having to figure out exact areas of exact parks, blah blah blah.

 

[ironsight]

I would venture to say many State Parks maybe most have some kind of historical significance whether it be battle sites, early pioneer settlements, Native American dwellings, etc.

One example is Little Big Horn Nat'l Monument run by the Nat'l Park Service. There was a documentary show on one of the cable channels a few years ago where 'volunteers' with metal detectors searched the site of that famous Indian battle under the supervision of archies, historians and the Park Service.
The many spent shell cases and other artifacts uncovered shed new light on how that battle was fought from what was previously thought. If that area had been open to metal detecting that new historical information would of been lost forever.

If anyone is interested in the American Civil War, you must visit the Gettysburg National Military Park. Especially visit the Park museum there with thousands upon thousands of artifacts from that battle. Historical artifacts are made possible for the 'entire' public to view instead of being in private metal detectorist's collections.......only because metal detecting has been/is strictly prohibited in Nat'l and most State Parks.
Having said that, most of those Gettysburg museum artifacts were preserved right after the battle, past private donations and also before the metal detector came into popularity as the Nat'l Park Service took control of the site sometime during the 1930s. Don't know offhand exactly when the Park Service prohibited metal detecting.

All is not lost for the CW relic hunter as relic finds are posted all the time found on private property on the fringes of the Nat'l Battlefield Parks, encampments, skirmishes, etc.