War declared on metal detecting...

[Nugget Shooter]

Fallout from the wave of reality shows.....

http://treasureworks...reasure-hunting

[Swampstomper Al]

Link to actual bill:

http://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0591/BillText/Filed/HTML

SA

[FlakMagnet]

(sorry this is long, it's a big topic, patience please)

I guess fallout is one word.

but the reality is that these shows give politicians and others with an ax to grind (archeologists for instance),

the leverage to get restrictive legislation passed.

Please read the language of the law in the link that Al put up;

it changes the wording from the law applying to state owned land

to basically all the land in Florida.

That is a huge political power move in a very restrictive direction.

It is worded so badly that it can be applied in other non-specified ways

that are sure to include metal detecting, one of the things the State of Florida

has been trying to get control of for years along with wreck salvaging.

These mindlessly stupid shows make someone bunches of money, that's why they make them.

But the producers portray gold mining and metal detecting as

something that comes off as idiots destroying the environment

and like most 'reality shows,' panders to the worst instincts in all of us.

Everyone who loves that Alaskan gold mining show and can't wait for the next episode

needs to remember that watching that programing - whether you agree it or not - is the same as supporting it.

If we didn't watch it, they wouldn't put this junk on the air.

Anyone who thinks this is something that can only happen in Florida

has their head in the sand,

especially in light of todays political climate.

That is why I posted about it a couple of days ago.

This is like the dredging moratorium;

it needs everyone to step up and actually do something,

not just read it and move on to the next topic.

I was given some links to the Florida Governor's office to call.

When I did they said they had been overwhelmed with calls.

You could actually have an effect if you call and tell them you are against

HB 591 (HB = House Bill).

[JohnH]

Thanks for the link to this bill. Being a Florida resident I did send an email to his office requesting he veto this and any other bills continually taking away my rights as an individual and a property owner.

[Nugget Shooter]

Thanks for the link to this bill. Being a Florida resident I did send an email to his office requesting he veto this and any other bills continually taking away my rights as an individual and a property owner.

You are more than welcome John.