I've commented on this topic many times on here, on various threads throughout the different forums.
This will probably get long, but bear with me!
I also think the time is right for action on this situation for three reasons.
1. As stated before, Gov. Scott is a business man more than a politician, (It's why you don't see his mug on tv every day), so he is much more likely to listen to reason, and consider a common sense solution...especially if it means more revenue for the state. Revenue from tourism, tax on commerce, revenue from permits, and the state's share of the salvage finds from the pro operations. This is why paid permits for the hobbyist is important...whether it be fossil hunters, artifact collectors, or metal detectorists.
2. With the current bad economy (which hits peoples hobby's more than anything), it will be much easier to sell reform to the state that will impact the economy in a positive manner. Money is the only thing that gets action. They will listen to anyone, and politely tell you they will look into it...but money is the only thing that will get anything changed.
3. With the current interest in metal detecting and treasure hunting, there will be no better time (for a long time anyway) to have a large support group to get the laws changed. For as bad as some of these tv shows are for the hobby, they do bring a lot of new blood into the hobby, and for as bad as that can be in some situations, the one thing it is definitely good for is getting support for change. That is a limited window though...once all those new people realize that there really isn't that many public places to go, or that the state isn't handing out permits to salvage ships, or that they are arresting people for picking up artifacts in the rivers, a lot of them will give up. The dealers and manufacturers are making all kinds of money right now because of these shows, but if the laws don't loosen up, they will lose the repeat customers that want to upgrade their equipment, or add to it for family members, so it is in their best interests to get involved...which brings me to my next point...
Besides good people working for us as mentioned before, we also need support from the manufacturers, and dealers. The antique/classic/performance auto industry has organizations like SEMA, and Performance Racing Industry....PRI has a big show/convention in Orlando every year, and SEMA has a big one in Las Vegas, that is in the news every year. The gun hobbyists have the NRA, and many other groups to support them...It's time that the industries that we support step up and support us!
To get what we want, we are going to have to be smart about it and realize that we aren't going to get everything we ask for, while making those that oppose us have to jump through hoops, and be made accountable.
We need to have about 4 different versions ready for presentation, with the first version being the perfect situation for us, and include the least amount of trouble for the archeologists that oppose us...and a pay raise for the state archys from the money from the permits...nothing will garner support from them more than that.
The fourth version should be the least we would be happy with, and include the accountability by the archys, no pay raise, and the requirement to make reports, engage in field work on the "off limit" sites, and make available the findings in laymans terms to the public, and display the recovered items in an easily accessible place for the public.
The second and third versions should be variations of the first and fourth...that will encourage one and two, and discourage three and four, if you follow my reasoning, but with version four still being better than the current situation. They will counter with leaving things the same, but with enough support that probably wouldn't happen.
They were all up in arms over the fossil permits, but they work just fine for $5 a year...I would pay much more than that for a permit that would allow me to look for artifacts, or metal detect in rivers, or on state land that wasn't a historical park. They will argue things about "disturbing" the river bottoms, but that didn't stop them from dredging, allowing phosphate mining, damming, and straightening the rivers in the past. They will argue about the items "belonging to everyone", but that is easily countered by referring to the successful fossil permit system, and the fact that the sky didn't fall because of it, as well as the fact that logging is allowed on state land, and in river bottoms (nothing more destructive to those two places than logging), and fishing and hunting is allowed on state land. Those logs, and animals "belong to everyone" as well...and are taken with paid permits every year...the logs for profit....
They will say that the isolated finds program, or a permit system will be too expensive to implement because of the recording requirements, but the fossil permit works for $5 a year per person, and there is no reason the IFP, or straight up permit system wouldn't work...especially if it cost more. I would have no problem paying $25 a year or more even, if it got me on sites that are off limits now.
The problem that would occur with putting the formation of a sanctuary, park, or preserve on the ballot for a vote is: It will never be voted down, (if it doesn't require a new tax) as the general public will always think it is a good idea, and never care about our hobby being affected.
There was some talk of a "Citizens Archeology Permit", but I couldn't find one thing on it other than archy blogs saying how it would be the end of the world! I don't know if it was even a real thing or not!
I think if the governor was made aware of exactly how overbearing the current laws are...especially how anyone that picked up a 51 year old penny would have just committed a felony!!, he would be willing to hear some alternatives....just like if he were made aware of all the money and potential share in the riches that allowing new salvage permits would bring...I'm sure he would also consider change.
Remember it is all about money.
If you or I pick up a gopher tortoise, we could get arrested...but construction companies are actually allowed to bulldoze the holes, and crush the gophers...Did you catch that? They aren't required to clear a jobsite of them and relocate them...something one guy with a shovel and a Rubbermaid tub could do in a few minutes...they are allowed to kill them! They are also allowed to build anywhere they want...archeological site or not. There was a housing development near me that dug up Indian remains in the ground clearing...it was a big story for a while...but guess what is on the site now? Yep...houses. Remains were found at the site of Fort Brooke in Tampa during construction of the convention center...they were relocated to the Seminole village where the bingo hall and cigarette shop were....until they needed to expand it into the Hard Rock Casino, and a big parking garage...Where are the remains now? Who knows.... The housing developments are getting closer and closer to me...the woods are disappearing, neighbors used to go to the public hearings to stop it, but they listen to the concerns, then issue the building permits anyway....Money talks!
Until the money is behind us....not much will be accomplished...we need a support organization backed by the industry.
We also need to be realistic in our requests, and understand that nothing is going to be free......
The simple act of making the Governor, or our state representatives aware of the current, ridiculous, laws, could do wonders...I'm sure that they have no idea of the truth, and the "stranglehold" that a few of the state archeologists have on Florida history. Governor Lawton Chiles was mentioned before. When President Clinton first proposed the (useless) "assault weapons ban", Lawton Chiles was all for it....then someone pointed out to him that he had one of the banned guns registered to him (a Ruger Mini-14)....He responded something to the effect of: "That gun?....but that's just a little gun!!". You see...he was clueless as to what he was supporting, and who all it affected...he just believed what he was told.... We need to make sure Gov. Scott has the whole story, and not just what he is told....