An Open Letter To All Metal Detector Manufacturers

[Anonymous]

An Open Letter To All Metal Detector Manufacturers
To Whom It May Concern,
The time has come. I am publicly pleading with all the metal detector manufacturers to come to our aid. It is time to set aside competitive differences and unite for a common cause.
When I started detecting over 30 years ago, it was legal to use a metal detector almost anywhere. As the years have gone by, I have seen more and more areas become off-limits. The reasons are many, but one that stands out is a lack of real commitment from the manufacturers of metal detectors.
I propose all the manufacturers form a trade organization. This organization should be jointly funded, and should maintain a full-time staff to look out for and respond to all threats to metal detecting. A good attorney needs to be kept on retainer. Perhaps a portion of each detector sale could go to funding the organization so we end users help fund this group.
We users could be employed as the ground troops to keep the organization informed of actions that might further restrict detecting, but the staff should be on every legislators contact list as the

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Steve,
Great idea. The manufacturers need to realize that if detecting becomes outlawed anywhere, they are losing sales to customers in that area. If it's outlawed everywhere, they have nobody left to sell to! They need to become proactive and not wait for this to be a problem. A litte foresight will go a long way.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,
A GREAT idea of what could be done is the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). Take a look at their website at http://www.snowmobile.org/]http://www.snowmobile.org/
Substitute the words "metal detector" for snowmobile and you will see what I am talking about. Industry funded, proactive, addressing public concerns in a positive fashion.
I think the metal detector manufacturers need to form the same kind of organization.
Steve Herschbach

 

[Anonymous]

That's wonderful however, if every metal detectorist, detector organization and manufacture combined all their resources and funds, it would be a pea in a 55 gallon drum of apples! Money is always the key to elections and politics. Compare the money generated in our sport and the popularity compared to such past times as; boating, baseball, off road ATV's, environmentalism, hunting, historical sites, etc. etc. etc... In my opinion, it would be a waste of time and money to compete with the money that wants land left pristine and untouched. I don't believe we have a chance competing with ALL the lobbying organizations against our hobby to protect the land. In my opinion again, I believe our best recourse of action is as individuals. Community citizens who are responsible and making a difference locally and in our neighborhoods promoting the hobby and advertising it with benifit to the communities. The environmentalist does not want oil drilled, cows grazing on public land, timber harvest, atv's, or a small plug removed from public lands to retrive an artifact, period! These are money forces and lobbyists that have the ears of the politicians. So I ask you, where would any money generated from our hobby be better spent? For advertised community activities that benefit the county and local governments, or state and federal bureaucrats on the dole of BIG, BIG special interests? We can be our own worst enemy if we try hard enough. The smart money says, "start locally", expand from there. I'm sure others think different, but just my rusty wheat cents worth <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
HH All