Posted on 03/09/2003 12:46:59 PM PST by Pharmboy
WASHINGTON, March 8 (AP) — Hobbyists who build and launch high-powered model rockets could soon be subject to background checks, fingerprinting and storage inspections.
Under new provisions set to go into effect May 24 under the Homeland Security Act, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would place further restrictions on the fuel that powers the rockets.
Sport rocketry attracts thousands of hobbyists across the country. The rockets can stand taller than an adult, soar miles into the sky and are designed to land intact nearby.
The new rules will require buyers of the rocket fuel ammonium perchlorate composite propellant to submit their fingerprints and photographs to the bureau. The government will check applicants' backgrounds to see if they are among those banned from possessing explosives, felons, for example.
Under the proposed rules, the government will also inspect the areas where permit holders store explosives at least once every three years.
"You can't even estimate the devastating effect this is going to have on the hobby," said Bruce Kelly, the publisher of the magazine High Power Rocketry, said of the rule changes.
Hobbyists have won the support of Senator Michael B. Enzi, Republican of Wyoming, who is drafting legislation to free rocketeers from the rules. His spokesman dismissed government claims that the regulations would better track explosives while not being "overly burdensome."
Meanwhile hobbyists are mounting a public relations assault on the new regulations. The Web site of the Amateur Rocketry Society of America, posts daily updates on the hobby's dispute with "the feds." This week it gave a plan of action.
"Senator Enzi has requested that you fax your letter and phone your two senators to enlist their support for this important legislation," the posting said of a measure exempting rocketry from the Safe Explosives Act. "If you have not done so yet, please do it this week."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says the most common model-rocket motors, which are smaller and typically use a weaker fuel, do not require permits and will not be affected.
"The Safe Explosives Act has not, does not and will not affect that exemption," said Gail Davis, chief of the bureau's public safety branch.
But hobbyists fear that restrictions on how explosive material can be shipped will hamper businesses that make and sell rocket motors.
Curtailed shipping could lead to a de facto ban on motor sales, said Gregory Lyzenga, a rocket enthusiast and geophysics researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"It's not as though there's been a law passed saying `model rocketry is illegal,' but it's just that the materials are unavailable," Mr. Lyzenga said.
Rocketeers are suing the bureau in federal court in Washington to force it to change its classification of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant as an explosive. They say it burns and does not blow up.
The terrorists haven't found a way to use basketballs or pots and pans yet.
I admit I know nothing about your hobby.
Yep, I made those things myself. I still have a copy of Capt. Briley's "Rocket Manual For Amateurs". The Feds really haven't caught on to the fact that law-abiding citizens aren't any concern. Anyone who wants to do nasty things won't be deterred by these laws. Decent propellants can be made from mundane things ... or mined from the dang ground if need be.
The Feds have drifted far from the Founder's views of "the citizen", haven't they?
Can you imagine if Benjamin Franklin had to operate in today's bureaucratic enviromnent?
He'd be fined by the EPA and FCC and raided by the BATF.
Most likely, he'd be doing jail time with the rest of the Founders if they were around today.
Nor have they found a way to use model rockets, but I guess that escaped your notice.
You must have missed the memo. It is now: "Land of the servile and timid."
Saddam's operatives are surely trying to infiltrate model rocket clubs. Who knows what sort of havoc they could cause with that sort of technology.
I for one am especially worried about those people who own radio controlled (RC) model aircraft. I'll bet they are next on the list.
Then there are all of those people who reload ammunition or shoot blackpowder firearms. They all have pounds of smokeless and black powder stored at home.
And then there are those rural folks with 1000 gallon tanks of liquified propane gas just sitting there in their yards. Talk about a fuel air explosive device.
A lot of tradesmen and farmers have acetylene torches. These require high pressure cylinders of acetylene and oxygen. Many of them carry these around in their pickup trucks.
All I can say is that it's a good thing Bush increased the BATF's budget. That group is going to be very busy once they've dealt with those rocketeers.
Regards
J.R.
Now I know the answer.
Best regards,
They're very burdensome!. First, the composition isn't an explosive. The ATF, and the bozos in Congress that proposed and stuck this BS in, are completely full of it. If it was an explosive, it would explode and the rocket the kids put together would just turn to little itsy, bitsy pieces and smoke. Instead the real rockets the kids build floats back down to Earth by parachute. The burden here is the big lie they're promoting.
The next burden is the idea they should have and even need a background check to operate a balsa wood science project, driven by an AP motor. What the hell kind of a Homeland are they trying to install? This used to be the US, a Free country where kids could prusue their intrests unencumbered by fed agents acting under the authority of a bunch of ninnies. All they had in the past was their parents, books and teachers. No finger prints, background checks, inspections, or files were created and there's absolutely no need to start now.
No person, kid and family in this US should ever have to allow a fed, or any other govm't inspection for something like this!
I'm glad to hear you say that. With the number of lives saved by seatbelt laws we've decided it is past time to make sure kitchen knives are properly stored and more carefully regulated.
Too many people carelessly throw kitchen knives into drawers or store them in the open on counters where they are readily accessible to children.
And most families have way too many. Who needs more than one carving knife, a paring knife and some steak knives for dinner?
If everyone cut back on the harmful habit of eating meat,even steak knives would be unnecessary.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission will soon release a list of approved storage containers for knives and someone from the Department of Social Services will visit your home every three years for a safety check to ensure that you know how to properly store your alloted number of knives.
And of course, should anyone every be injured by one of your knives, the penalty will $10,000.00 and up to a year in jail.
Since you are a responsible citizen, you obviously have nothing to fear from common sense safety regulations.
Best regards,
Us reloaders better get on the right side of this because they will come after us next. This is propellent just the same as gunpowder. How would you like to get fingerprinted just so you could reload some surplus .45 brass?
And for the freeper that asked can it carry a payload? So what, they can't aim it at something or put a MRV warhead on it. Terrorist aren't going to launch a mini rocket and then count on the wind to carry it to the target. They just drive their rental van over to the sidewalk and pull the ripcord and go Kablooey.
Thank you for the information, I was not aware that significant security measures were already in place. I was about to agree that the new measures were justified, but now I see that they are not. Instead, I think I shall go out and buy some hobby rockets! :^)
Now I know the answer."
Perfect summation.
Thread can end now!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.