Citing Terror Fears, Sens. Schumer, Lautenberg Oppose Loosened Rocket Hobby Rules

Associated Press ^ | Jul 29, 2003 | Devlin Barrett

[New Horizon]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A bill to loosen federal restrictions for model rocket enthusiasts drew fire Tuesday from senators from New York and New Jersey, who said the proposal would give terrorists access to dangerous explosives. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized the measure by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., to change the Homeland Security Act to allow rocket enthusiasts to buy black powder and another form of high-powered rocket propellant without submitting to a background check. The act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Standing next to a seven-foot tall rocket, Schumer said the legislation effectively would allow would-be terrorists to amass large quantities of explosives.

"Sometimes you see things in Congress that make you scratch your head in wonderment," said Schumer. "This is one of those days."

He and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said passage of the bill would allow terrorists to stockpile the same material used in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta and a bomb sent by "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski in 1985.

The Justice Department also has opposed Enzi's bill, saying in a June 10 letter the current regulations exempt 90 percent of rocket hobbyists and require background checks only for those who use the largest rockets.

The Homeland Security Act requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to monitor the purchase and transfer of any chemical mixture or device with the primary function of causing an explosion.

"It's a sad state of affairs when we see a government agency and senators go to such lengths to squash efforts to preserve a constructive, educational and important hobby enjoyed by millions of Americans," Enzi said. "My bill is not a license to build bombs, and the senators know it."

Tim Lehr, rocket manager at Al's Hobby Shop in Elmhurst, Ill., said the restrictions are killing the rocket hobby business and are an unnecessary hassle for hobbyists.

"It's going to put dealers out of business, period," said Lehr. He predicted the hobby will die out within five years because no one new will pick it up knowing the bureaucratic hurdles of background checks, storage requirements and governmental oversight.

Two rocketry groups, the National Association of Rocketry and the Tripoli Rocketry Association, accused the senators of equating hobbyists with terrorists. In a statement, the associations called the issue "a prime example of the government overreacting to something that is not a threat."

---

On the Net:

National Association of Rocketry: http://www.nar.org

Tripoli Rocketry Association: http://www.tripoli.org

[playball0]

Black powder is easy to make from commonly available ingredients. Hey! They made it in the 18th Century.

Captain Kirk even made it from common minerals without any technology in a Star Trek episode. Why would you want people mixing up batches? Government gone wild!!!

[Orangedog]

It would be best to buy them more than 6 months before the inauguration...at least thats how long the AG says they hold onto the background instant-check records. Better to buy lots of pieces and assemble them.

[Veracious Poet]

"Visualize President Hellary and AG Schumer..."

Not too hard to do, just take a look at the last democrat admin...Dubya's admin, although rhetorically different from Clintoons, has continued the vision of setting up BIG brother to be the bogeyman many of us have been afraid of all along.

What's next, government retraining kamps?

[niteowl77]

When he was in junior high, my son (the PFC now in Iraq) built an Estes rocket that was quite large- in fact, it was not too far off from what old Chunk is pictured with. It actually used a small rocket motor in a reduced-diameter motor housing, and was anemic compared to some of the other rockets he built. It WAS easy to find after it drifted into the woods, though.

Size doesn't always matter (and that's probably what Charles and Frank would say in certain other areas of life), but when doing a photo-op, go for the biggest firearm or model rocket you can scare up.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

They should ban the use of gasoline in automobiles. It is highly inflammatory, after all.

[Noumenon]

I still recall my early experiences in model rocketry as I pursued my Frogs in Space program.

Those were the days. Snif.

[Possenti]

Yes, I've seen comments like yours, but unfortunately, there's not enough people like you here for me to feel comfortable.

[Sunnyvale CA Eng.]

..What next, R/C Airplanes? Only when you pry the transmitter from my cold dead hands.

Well, actually - yes. I have seen a few articles on that exact subject. The FBI was warning RC stores about the possibility that RC planes could be used for terrorist activities - well no kidding. There are several companies making live video links to your plane so you can get a "through the windshield" view transmitted back to ground. This could allow you to fly accurately at your "target". Anything can be used for the wrong purpose though.

[Steve_Seattle]

Anyone building a rocket sophisticated enough deliver explosives to a specific target is not going to be buying their propellants from Estes. Amateur rocket enthusiasts can put a pretty sizeable rocket 15,000 feet in the air, but they aren't likely to hit anything but themselves.

[Steve_Seattle]

"They should ban the use of gasoline in automobiles. It is highly inflammatory, after all."

This is in line with my comment that the key element in a rocket is the guidance system, and anyone sophisticated enough to build such a guidance system wouldn't be needing to by rocket motors from Estes. As you indicate, a few well-placed gallons of gasoline can do a lot more damage than an amateur rocket motor that burns itself out in just a few seconds.

[MarkL]

"Sometimes you see things in Congress that make you scratch your head in wonderment," said Schumer.

Gee, I think the same thing, everytime I see Chuckes and the rest of his ilk on TV!!! I really wonder how the hell they got into the House or Senate! And Chuckles has been in both! Then again, they elected Hitlery too...

Mark

[BOBTHENAILER]

And the absolutely, most dangerous weapon on the entire planet is the educated/knowledgeble human mind coupled with a skillful human hand.

Could be another reason for the dumbing down of our school kids.

No doubt about it. You are definitely onto something there.

THE VAST LEFT WING CONSPIRACY

[elbucko]

1. A U.S. born citizen, should not be required to submit to any background check.
2. A "Naturalized" citizen should be submitted to one background check prior to naturalization.
3. A non citizen, resident or visitor, legal or illegal, cannot purchase items that would require a background check.

In our effort to become "diverse", we have become more like subjects, than citizens. When I was in the Army, the term "Citizen" implied a rank higher than a "General". Now, our government treats its "citizens" as if we are a kind of legal, illegal "alien", in own country. This is a form of "Government Disease" that has become too prevalent in the last 10 years. It's time to recall the politicians that have these "overlording" desires to diminish the the freedoms of citizens under a false banner of security.

[Timesink]

"Sometimes you see things in Congress that make you scratch your head in wonderment," said Schumer.

I agree. Every time I see Schemer and The 'Toon on the floor of the Senate, I scratch my head in wonderment at how they got there.

[Timesink]

I'd be willing to bet that some of us here who are bashing Schumer would jump right on the bandwagon had a Republican - or even the Bush administration - proposed this idiotic legislation. There would be endless debates about how "it's not a right to own a model rocket", and "we all need to 'sacrifice' in our fight against terror."

Straw man.

[Timesink]

You obviously have not been on any of the threads where I have tried to warn people about what Hilliary will use the "Patriot" Act for when she gets back into the White House...among other things I've tried to warn people about.

When you decide you're the only one with the crystal ball (Hillary back in the White House is 100% inevitable, eh?), then yes, you should be ready to experience a lot of criticism in return.

[KCmark]

I'm really confused about conservatives' support of "The War on Terror"...

Me too.

I'd be willing to bet that some of us here who are bashing Schumer would jump right on the bandwagon had a Republican - or even the Bush administration - proposed this idiotic legislation. There would be endless debates about how "it's not a right to own a model rocket", and "we all need to 'sacrifice' in our fight against terror."

Me too. I can hear it now. "Where in the Constitution does it say ... ?"

Bush's people have attempted to do much more to restrict our liberties than Schumer on this issue, and hardly a peep was heard by any freepers (not all) who supposedly support our Constitution.

All I'm saying is that we need to look beyond our partisanship and ask ourselves what we need to do to preserve our freedoms in this time of crisis. The worst laws in human history have been passed during a period of 'national emergency'. Now is the time we need to be more vigilant than ever - regardless of our party affiliation.

I couldn't agree more.

[Iconoclast2]

Once they succeed with rural cleansing, and everyone is in the cities, then they can start outlawing gasoline too.

[ibbryn]

I've called Schumer and Lautenberg a lot of names before and this time "dork" comes to mind. They are just pitiful.

[Born Conservative]

bump for home reading.