The only ignorance being expressed here is coming from one ham radio operator.
First responder communication are highly regulated and secure. You must have a security clearance, and a pretty high one, depending on what level of access you have.
For example, in our county emergency system, very few have access to the radio room without having clearances. The equipment in there links directly with Homeland security both state and national. It is no go area for even the Mayoral staff, of which I am one.
Ham radio is amateur radio, and although it is a great asset, it should never be regulated to tis degree. It would be destroyed and few would remain as operators due to the regulations needed and the ultra high security required to be a part of that system.
The very idea that Romney was dissing Ham is ridiculous. He knows, as governor, exactly what the first responder comm is all about, and he was trying protect the freedom of Ham radio and it's components, not destroy or diss it.