Today is the day to help KY detectorists!......

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

They are asking for a phone call and email campaign starting Monday to the mayors office. We need EVERYONE to respond to this starting Monday morning, PLEASE!
http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Mayor/contactusmayor.htm This is the email for the Mayor's office (Jerry Abramson) His phone number is:1-502-574-2003 Louisville,Ky.



Remember when you call or email not to leave threatening statements. It is better to show the positive aspects of the hobby like:
- Return lost items
- Work with local law enforcement
- Provide a family-oriented pastime
- Leave sites in better shape than when we got there
- Assist local historical societies in preserving the past

. . . . . and so one . . . adding a few lines to make it hard to vote against us is a better tact in my opinion

 

[Pete in MI]

Metal Detecting - a retired Police Officer's View

Honorable Mayor Abramson,

I am a retired Police Officer from another state (Michigan). I have been to your wonderful town on several occassions. I know right now you are being overwhelmed by the number of people contacting you about metal detecting.

Please look at this in a positive manner. How many people show this much care over anything unless they believed in what they do. If this were any other topic would you get this much response?

As a retired Police Officer, and as a metal detectorist as well, I have seen the positives of this hobby. The positives are not just individual positives such as exercise or putting pocket change in one's pocket. There are family positives as well. Families enjoy this hobby of metal detecting and a family together sharing each others hobby and company is a good thing. My wife and I and her daughter all enjoyed our trips to go metal detecing. We saw ne sites traveling to the parks and other places to be together and to share this hobby. My wife enjoys photography and this allowed her more opportunities to enjoy her hobby as well. We all love animals and no matter where we went, there were animals...and even zoos we went to afterwards... to enjoy.

On a community level there are positives as well. Metal detectorists have helped maintain parks, playgrounds and other areas where children play. They have removed trash both on the surface and just nbeneath the soil. Metal detectorists remove and properly dispose of hazardous items, such as broken glass bottles, sharp metal pull tabs off canned pops/sodas, live rounds of ammunitions dropped by gun toting miscrants and even hypodermic needles left behind by drug abusers. The safety of our children, all children, from cuts, scrapes and other things is one of the things metal detectorist pride themselves on doing and they do this for free, no cost to any government agency, but free and for the benefit of the community at large.

I know that times are hard and it is difficult to provide more parks personnel when finances are tight. Where else can you find free help and have extra eyes watching out for the safety of all than to allow metal detectorists to be that help and be those eyes?

Personally, I have, and known many others, who have notified parks people of nests of hornets and wasps that endangered the well being of people using the parks and other areas. I, and the others, have reported to the police criminal activities via their cell phones to help police the parks. Where children gather there is always the chance of someone out there to kidnap a child. We can be the eyes that keep this activity from happening and report suspicious activites.

Metal detectorists also help keep the heritage of a community alive. When items of historical significance are found, the local historical society gets those items. Even the State Archeologist is notified should it be something of significance to the State as well.

There is so much more I could say but I know you are a busy official for your city. If you could measure the benefits of metal detecting for your city and its people compared to the loss of those positive things I have mentioned, I believe you would find metal detecting is a free and positive resource to you and your community.

I forgot to mention that nearly all detectorists offer their services to police agencies to recover items of criminal activites and for other reasons...this is again money savings to the community as the police departments may have to otherwise buy the equipment and then get experience in using it. We, detectorists, use our own equipment, which we have used for long periods of time so we know limitations and capabilities of these machines which in turn make us more useful than a piece of purchased equipment sitting in a storage area of a police department where there is little training and experienced users of it.

The likelihood of this piece of equipment paying for itself in finding what is sought after is slim at best. But again, you and you community can benefit from detectorists who are more than willing to use their time, talents and services for free.

Well, Sir, with that I only ask you reconsider the shutting down of a wonderful hobby and all the benefits it provides for you, children, families, communities, police agencies and more.

Thank you for your time and patience in this matter.

Sincerely,

Thomas Peters Sr.
Houghton Lake, Michigan
retired U.S. Air Force Law Enforcement Shift Supervisor


Making threats only hurts our image. Building us up, showing what he really has available to him and for free, for the benefit of his community, etc. This is the kind of thing the Mayor needs to be made aware of. I can only pray now that because of the subject line he will read it. And, pray that God will direct his steps to a better understanding of metal detecting and its benefits. In Jesus name. Amen.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

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[DK]

Great letter Pete. It is a good example for all of us to follow. Now is not the time for anger, but prayer and peace. Your letter had numerous positive points, and if the mayor truly reads them and listens, he should see that we are an asset to our communities. Thanks for the example.

 

[DK]

Pete--Followed your example, and just emailed the mayor with a very positive email in support of our hobby. Thanks again for setting the example for all of us to follow. With the Lords help, we will prevail

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Pete, for your informative and positive email sent to Mayor Abramson! I sent one before reading yours and wrote most of what you said, but in different ways being nice and polite! Hope yours and all of ours does the work and keeps all city and county parks open in all states, for the good of the gov't and for the people!

Please answer our phone calls and email requests, dear Lord, and move the hearts of those, who are closing the parks to detecting, and help them to change their hearts and minds, for the good of the people and for Your purpose! Amen! God Bless! Betty

 

[KyBud(InezKy)]

Honorable Mayor and Whomever This May Concern,
I am sending this in regard to the metal detecting ban in your public parks in Louisville, KY. I live in Eastern KY and am an avid metal detecting hobbist. I urge you to take a broader look at the metal detecting community as a whole. The majority of MD'ers I have become aquainted with are all community minded citizens that are always looking for better ways to improve the community they live in and would never damage any places visited. Speaking for myself and other MD'ers I have been assoicated with, We retrive our targets on public and private property in a way that no damage is done to the grass or landscape. We take all our trash and dangerous objects (glass,sharp metal objects, etc.) with us when we leave and depose of it in the proper way. We also clean up other not as concerned peoples trash too. We have been known to help law enforcement find evidence, Have found and returned lost items to the owners, (rings,neckless etc.) Have help homeowners find property stakes, buried water lines etc. We have also been known to help find lost graves in cemeterys. The list goes on and on. I and my md'ing buddys are presently in the process of helping our local historical society find a civil war cematery that has been lost for many years. So it can be documented.
Most people that metal detect don't do it for profit, Its a hobby that gives us a chance to enjoy the great outdoors, get some exercise, meet people and creat new frindships, and visit other places and communities we've never been to, including your city of Louisville. Speaking for myself, I'll probably never find enought coins to pay for my equipment. But I enjoy getting out and enjoying nature, making new friends, and most items found have a history lesson that goes with them. What coins are found are put back in circulation by buying a cup of coffee, gas, batteries etc.
Most sincere people that metal detect honor the below code of ethics, though I am sorry to say that a few don't. But I urge you to please not judge the majority of us by what a minority does.

Metal Detecting Code of Ethics:

 

[KyBud(InezKy)]

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[dobbie]

Hope it helps...God Bless

 

[Pete in MI]

Are they supporting the detectorists, ignoring the situation so as not to 'offend' anyone, on the side of the liberal tree hugging green meanies or siding with the Mayor?

Just curious.

Seems that city should be buzzing with talk shows talking about the issue so the public is involved and knows...not just our 'dirty' little secret. TV reporters should be talking to the Mayor's Office, to detectorists with signs at the parks, etc.

HH and good luck down there, Bud

 

[Mike Chgo area]

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[seeker41]

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[Joe G]

Pete,

I have to say that your email to the Mayor of Louisville was nothing short of brilliant. I agree with you whole-heartedly. Great job!

In NYC, they recently banned MD'ing in Prospect Park (a real old historical park) and another spot that was previously allowed. Permits are required but currently "free". However, while on a group hunt last year, my friend got hit with a $250 fine for digging on a "manicured" lawn. That manicured lawn was covered in dandelion weed and patches of bare spots. That manicured lawn was the same lawn the stupid park policewoman parked her 4 wheel drive. He even took pics. My friend went to court and lost when the judge sited that he was digging up "native vegetation". The funny thing is, on the permit, grass is specifically mentioned as NOT being "native vegetation". He had to pay. Appeals take years to make happen.

It's not going to get easier in the future. Once some stupid politician get a bug up their butt, it'll happen somewhere else. Too bad.