Hello Carl,
You ask some interesting questions. Yes, it sounds as if there are
many gray areas in the law...and those need to be cleared up. As for
your question about the LA Mars rocks, from the first time that I
heard the story, I wondered about the circumstances. While I believe
the story to be true, some might say that it was a convenient
fabrication to preserve personal gain. In any case, I guess that one
must draw a line at some point...and due to recent meteorite hunting
publicity, it appears that the time has now arrived. It may be that
previously documented finds can be "grandfathered" but going forward,
all laws must be obeyed. It is one thing to fail to know or
understand the law and another to knowingly disregard it...which is
the position of those who state that they will "refind" specimens in
the future.
Thanks,
Dennis
On Mar 9, 2010, at 10:21 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
Dennis,
I agree with you 100 %. If there were laws prohibiting the
collection. However there is not. If you do read all the posts it
has already been linked to sites that do define collections of
meteorites and they only limit the amount allowed to 250 pounds per
year without a special permit. But with that permit more in allowed
legally. It merely states that these collections cannot be for
commercial gain. This is the gray area. If you sell them then you
are in violation. But what if your kids inherit them? What is the
status then? This verbiage is as bad as many other laws drafted by
the feds. I was once charged with selling duck feathers. They ended
up dropping the charges as I proved the stuffed duck was legal
because it was an antique
( grand fathered) but under current law it is in fact illegal to
sell any migrating bird feathers. Thanks to the migrating bird act.
Yes, you can hunt ducks and eat them but you must discard the
feathers and may never sell them. How stupid is that?
Again , it is very gray because these rocks are not meteorites until
they are approved by metsoc. true story. An IMCA member is not
allowed to state that they are selling meteorites unless they are
approved by metsoc. And rightly so because they are not real without
the metsoc designation. Or are they???
We can also reduce this to the ridiculous by saying that all rocks
came from space. Yes even Earth came from space. Or do we
grandfather it in like the duck feathers? So, they are technically
just rocks until that happens. By then if you try to put them back
they can get you for littering. Can you imagine what the cops would
do to you if they caught you littering on public lands?
The now famous Los Angeles meteorites were found by a rock hound.
Again a perfectly legal find as a rock under 250 ponds.
Years later it was discovered and recognized as a meteorite. But
again until then it was just an interesting rock. So, based on your
position all of the dealers of LA mars rocks are out of favor with
you? For that matter any and all finds without a permit like Gold
Basin on Federal land are all in this same position. All illegal.
Looks like your buying days are very limited?
Obviously my only point here is that these laws are really really
stupid. My two cents.
Carl
--
Carl or Debbie Esparza
Meteoritemax
---- Dennis Beatty <[email protected]> wrote:
I have sporadically read the comments regarding the implementation of
new (or newly enforced) BLM rules...and am saddened and disappointed
at the overall tone of the responses. What is it about us and our
love of meteorites that gives us the right for personal gain?? As I
understand it, any item found on public land belongs to the American
people not some lucky individual that happens to stumble across
something of value. I have read several posts where fellow
collectors
have stated that should they find a meteorite on public land, they
will merely "refind" it on private land. Sheesh!! I will be going
back through this thread much more carefully and if those types
comments are tied to any dealers, I will definitely not patronize
them. And were is the IMCA on this?? Isn't ethical dealing one of
their mainstays??
Perhaps I am naive, but I had envisioned our group as seekers of
knowledge rather than modern day anti-government, do as I damn well
please rustlers.
Well, there goes two cents...
Dennis Beatty
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