Rocket Hobbyists Get Blown Away by Regulations

dogfart writes "Amateur rocket hobbyists are bearing the brunt of Federal anti-terror efforts. Cumbersome regulations (which include extensive background checks) are pushing many to abandon the hobby. Even clubs associated with colleges (such as Kettering) have ended up folding under the pressure. Quoting the article: '"If we're in an environment where the government says you've got to get fingerprinted and background checked, and spend three to four months to do it, (adults are) not going to participate in my hobby," said Mark Bundick, president of the National Association of Rocketry. "We need more kids. It helps them learn technology. It's the technological base here in the country that we need to protect, and this hobby is a good introduction for kids that are interested in technology. If I lose those adults, then I will not be able to train those kids."'" We wrote about these regulations before, and followed it up with a Slashback.

Hey, whose side are they on?

[Skyshadow]

Obviously, these people are forgetting the role that amateur rocketry played in 9-11.

This has been a huge problem

[Anonymous Coward]

for my V-2 reenactment society. Bloody red tape.

Launch the rockets anyway

[rwrife]

Just launch the rockets anyway and run (so you don't get a fine or jail time).....seriously, what are they going to do? Catch the rocket in mid air?

Time to trade in

[xmedar]

Those American passports, Europe is nice, come over here, have some cheese and wine, and be free of your oppressors, huddled masses welcome!

Back in the Day...

[Anonymous Coward]

When I was a kid we used to save up our spare change and head to the local variety store to buy a few rockets. I can remember launching them in a playground and even from my backyard. Not the safest thing, but still fun.

I remember one time we were about to launch from the playground and a cop drove up and just sat in his car. We knew we probably shouldn't be launching from the neighborhood so we just waited. About 5 minutes later the cop gets out and asks "When you gonna launch that thing? I want to see it"

Today I suppose that would be a federal offense.

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[ncurses]

Yeah. There are thousands of things that are totally legal to purchase that can be used to make all kinds of goodies. Check this place out . I used to get all of my stuff from them before I got busted by the polese. One of my friends made the bomb, he said he was just messing around with acetone peroxide when he made it. I think AP was what the shoe bomber guy used. They say that it's really unstable, but it's not. It's cool, it makes a huge fireball w/ very little noise. Ketone Peroxide was what got us into trouble though. I can't tell you how to make that, because I don't want to get into trouble again, but it is a hugeass powerful explosive :) Annnyway, it's ridiculous to outlaw rocketry when such stuff can be made by two 16 year old kids out of household chemicals. [sciencelab.com]

Nah.

[www.sorehands.com]

They think I will take out an airplane, distracting the secret service (the initials happen to be SS), with my 2 stage balsa wood rocket with an egg in the payload section. Then, the egg would drop from the payload compartment onto a speeding car and cause an accident blocking th presidential motorcade so that that Lee Harvey Oswald can shoot Bush from the Clinton Library.

Re:rocketry: dangerous?

[rwrife]

They're not dangerous....I once built a shoulder mounted rocket launcher out of a small estes rocket and I'm sure it would have been cool to watch slam into my parent's house had my face and eyes not been burned by the exhaust.

What you're forgetting...

[Skyshadow]

Despite the constant reminders from the Bush Administration, you've obviously forgotten: The sole reason that terrorists hate Americans because of our freedom and liberties.

The best way to prevent terrorist acts, therefore, is to strip those puppies away as quickly and efficiantly as possible.

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[garcia]

Maybe we should outlaw fertilizer and diesel fuel

Unforunately you need fertilizer to grow plants to feed the animals that roam the ranches paid for by oil profits.

Re:VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

[JojoLinkyBob]

I believe the appropriate term is asshat [confusednation.com]...and I certainly hope I don't come across as one in bringing this up :)

Terrorist's converse

[Anonymous Coward]

Terrorist #1: Did you bring the stuff?

Terrorist #2: Well I got the explosives, but the ATF syas that .9lbs of propellant is illegal.

Terrorist #1: Shucks, we need 1.1 lbs of fuel.

Terrorist #2: Well I guess we have to scrub the mission.

Terrorist #1: Next time America! When you allow more than .9 lbs of propellant, next time!

Rocketry turns kids into terrorists

[Animats]

When he was 19, Werner von Braun joined a rocketry club, the Verein für Raumschiffahrt (VfR). A few years later, his terror rockets were bombing London. If it hadn't been for the rocket club, the V-2 wouldn't have been built.

Outlaw fertilizer?

[Anonymous Coward]

They'd have to arrest all members of Congress then.

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[Anonymous Coward]

The rocket hobbyists simply need to rename themselves to missile defense enthusiasts - no way Bush would not back those.

Re:Outlaw fertilizer?

[dirvish]

Are you implying that they are all full of shit?

Why are you guys whining?

[Cheirdal]

You can still enjoy safe hobbies that involve owning assault rifles. Start an organization called The National Rocket Association (NRA) and write your congressment telling them that the NRA is very disappointed in their actions. That might actually get some results as long as you just use the acronym.

Re:Use Canada or Mexico to bomb the United States

[psbrogna]

Awww, come on, put your name on that posting yah chicken. You'll make it easier for them to come get you.

Model rockets: NO. Guns: YES.

[Anonymous Coward]

The government's crackdown on Boy Scout hobbies has arguably left the nation a much safer place. Legions of Boy Scout fanatics, armed with model rockets and swiss army knives have been dealt a serious blow and their nefarious activities have been set back days, perhaps even weeks.

Scout leaders are being urged at this time to encourage scouts of all ages to take up firearms training. Firearms, being readily available and licensed, are a safe recreation. Remember, guns don't kill people, rockets do.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

Terrorist #1: I would like to use this rocket to wage holy war against the infidels.

Terrorist #2: You cannot. The infidels have fuel limits. You will not have the range.

Terrorist #1: In that case I will use this assault rife I bought for home defence.

Terrorist #2: You are a most wise servant of Allah.

Terrorist #1: Mwaahahahahah!

Terrorist #2: Mwahahahahaha!

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[wrf3]

And after all this time, I thought it was Windows!

Re:These aren't the rocket's I used to play with

[chadjg]

"That's Huge and could very well be used as a weapon"

Sure, I see two possibilities. First, you could bludgeon someone to death with the motor. Put it in a sock for extra leverage. Second. some knucklehead might want to rig up a remote fired "Katyusha" type of assembly. Guess which one I think is more likely?

I did the small model rockets as a kid and always thought it would be fun to get into the big ones if I ever got into a big enough paycheck. Now, it seems like a colossal pain. Oh well. Now I'll have to get a safe hobby like motorcycles, skydiving or street racing.

It really is too bad.

Look at the bright side!

[barthrh2]

The good news is that you can still head down to your local Wal-Mart or Jim-bo's Guns 'n Booze emporium and buy yourself enough ammo for even the most psychotic killing rampage.

But of course, these guys aren't terrorists, they're just exercising their constitutional rights. After all, a few thousand people have did at the hands of terrorists, clearly making them the clear & present danger.

Re:MOD PARENT UP

[darth_zeth]

Where are those mod points when I need em

you didn't use them to mod +1 funny to a soviet russia joke, did you?

Missle Defense Shield

[mbowles]

Wouldn't DoD's missle defense shield protect us against the threat of INBMs (Inter-Neighborhood Ballistic Missles)?

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[Lemmeoutada Collecti]

Long straw (bamboo works nicely), needle like object (can also come from bamboo), feathering (combed bamboo), and poison (from bamboo extract)... viola, blow gun and darts. Deadly short range weapon with medium accuracy, almost totally silent.

So please, think of the children, screw the koala, and ban bamboo!

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[Anonymous Coward]

A.) Koala bears eat eucalyptus leafs, not bamboo
B.) Panda bears eat bamboo shoots
C.) Bamboo, to quote Jackie Chan is "really strong wood!"

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[heptapod]

Bamboo is a grass not a wood.
Cite [flooringguide.com]. Cite [chiangmai-chiangrai.com]. Cite [wikipedia.org].

Re:Hey, whose side are they on?

[Dizzle]

A tomato is a plant, not an animal.

What's your point? He never mentioned wood.