ExploringHistorysTreasures Re: The Virginia Antiquity Laws!

[detector99]

A few weeks ago I posted on another forum about how we at EHT (ExploringHistorysTreasures.com) may use our ability as TV producers to intiate, and make public a new association for metal detecting enthusiasts. I have two reasons why I feel that a new organization for metal detector hobbyisits, who will fight for their right to detect, are needed.
First, after reading about what has happened in Virginia I feel that someone has to begin to act in a more proactive movement against that kind of bureaucratic nonsense. The organizations we as metal detector users have joined in the past and that are out there now are not helping us.
Second, a few days ago I received a letter from a local Archeologist who in so many words grouped me into the same class of "dirtbags" that loot, pilfer and in his words "pot" historical sites. Apparently this individual had read the local newspaper article that printed a feature about our TV series. You can view the article on our website. This Archy in his letter, wrote that I "would be hearing from the New York State Archeology Society." He also stated, again after he pegged me as a criminal,(this guy doesn't even know me)that he "dislikes the philosophy of "treasure hunters." In his words, "treasure hunters" take what belongs to the states, and they do it illegally. By the way, the article stated that I was a treasure hunter. Which I do not have a problem with.
You will be able to read the letter in a few days once I get it scanned and onto our website.

Enough is enough! I am again asking all of you to join with me in an effort to protect our rights within this hobby. I believe that freedom of the press has the power to change opinion. I want to use EHT as the catalyst for power. In doing so I will surround myself with the best people I can by starting an organization that will fight for our rights so that our states and or communities do not end up like Virginia. I have the ability, with my TV series, which already promotes the positive aspects to our hobby, to create a massive public forum to fight against the nonsense the Archy's are iniating.

However, I cannot do it alone. Please email me with your thoughts and ideas about this issue. Give me names of influential people you may know who could join us. This forum is a powerful network of people. Combine that with our TV production capabilities, and we can become a powerful force for the hobby.

Thanks
Frank W. Pandozzi
[email protected]


http://www.exploringhistorystreasures.com

 

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[Lowbatts]

Your experience and the Virginia situation are part of a real problem. A few thoughts from me follow:

1. Compromise is for the weak side of the argument. If you are right, do not bend, they will push harder.

2. In the case of Virginia, the MD'ing community must demonstrate political will. This means outing the elected reprehensibles that enjoy noithing more than an exercise in power. Criminalizing the hobby does not make anyone in the state safer and costs the taxpayers in prosecutory costs. Build a tag line around those thoughts and attach it to the reps backing the measure.

3. Publicity. Someone in the MD manufacturing community needs to recognize their joint need to respond. They can hire the same publicity people that the archies will work with and have them relate stories involving the following:
a. Lost and returned items, warm hearts.
b. Public assistance, police/club liasons.
c. Trash removal, environmental impacts.
d. Currency returned to circulation. This alone should be a major selling point.
e. Again, cost to the public for state archeological commissions, non-elected officials passing policies/laws and enforcement costs.

4. Last but not least, there is one thing pols respond to better than anything else. The campaign contribution. Unfortunately here, as in the last days of Rome, we are at the point were we will have EXACTLY the legislatures, state and fed, that WE pay for. If you know who the fence sitters are on a given issue, you know where to send the check or the lobbyist. The archies are nothing more than lobbyists. The monies they spend on the pols most likely itself comes from the general public in the big circle of state, education and general revenue collection and distribution.

One last point. We all know most items recovered by MD'ers, especially relic hunters will rot in the ground waiting for archies to get to them. Unless of course all your neighbors and friends, co-workers and others are happy to spend their tax dollars on academic welfare. Get some catch phrases, some positive publicity and remember, the local paper editor in any big city is far less likely to let you be heard than the archie. You have no credentials at first glance based on what they know/have been told of you. So get going locally and build on it. What is an archie gonna tell me about my ancestor's lifetime in this country that I do not know?