Posted on 02/05/2003 2:02:05 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
LUFKIN, Texas (AP) - Two Texans were indicted Wednesday on federal charges they stole pieces of space shuttle Columbia that had dropped onto the countryside. Federal officials in Texas also declared an amnesty period extending until 5 p.m. Friday, during which people who have collected shuttle debris can turn it in without fear of being prosecuted. After that, prosecutions will resume, they said. Merrie Hipp, 43, of Henderson, was charged with theft of government property for allegedly stealing a shuttle circuit board on Saturday.
Bradley Justin Gaudet, 23, of Nacogdoches, was charged in a separate incident with stealing a piece of thermal insulating fabric. Gaudet is a student at Steven F. Austin State University. "The issue here is the thermodynamics of the space shuttle and any piece of that is important to this investigation," said U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby. "No one knows which piece will unravel the mystery." The charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Both defendants awaited arraignment Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities said they are conducting at least 17 investigations into reports of people taking shuttle debris as souvenirs. They would not give specifics or comment on whether those cases were related to attempts by people to sell purported shuttle debris on eBay. "These two individuals are first," Orwig said. "There is no particular threshold. They are an example, whether it's our intention or not. Authorities urged members of the public to take advantage of the amnesty period. "If you turn the piece over and describe where you found the piece, we will not prosecute you," Orwig said.
From the article: "There is no particular threshold."
No, you're not. Your sarcasms represent YOUR particular strawman, not OUR arguments.
Better luck next shot. Tee it up. ;-)
The Sons of Liberty looted accident sites?
No, but they had a rather nasty habit of disrespecting "gubbmint" property. Look it up. :-)
Ignoramous.
Using that argument, we all own it so what proceeds is what most of us want.
Your position will likely be supported by 0.03% of the population, whereas 99.97% of the owners of the shuttle want it back for the investigation.
To prove your argument you have to show an overwhelming support amongst the population that these few people have "rights" to this salvage. Your personal opinion is irrelevant.
Show me!
That would be "ignoramus" for you literate types out there. ;-)
Not if they have any brains at all. Having a bunch of now obviously mean spirited Feds all over my property is not my idea of how to spend an afternoon.
The Feds are being stupid about this. Rather than using the good intentions and peer pressure of neighbors, they want to use the draconian powers of the govt to put someone down a bottomless hole.
With assholes like that around, who needs the hassle. F the Feds, and just bury the piece and shut up.
It's your strawman - I'm not really interested in it, myself.
Yep, these are likely consequences of these dogooder prosecutions! If you picked something up before the warnings were issued, or are not an idiot box junkie and never heard the warnings in the first place, would you now risk '10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine' by coming forward with a roll of space shuttle hi-tech aluminum toilet paper you found Saturday monring on your ranch?! Hell, no!
These are your words. You mean for them to be taken as true. If they ARE true, you would know who esrosen is. I do, because I've been around here that long.
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