Merkin.Muffley
member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2006
- Messages
- 158
This is unfortunate. If they're can't go on hassling the model rocket people - they be hassling gun owners. Personally, I'd rather they spend their time and our money on the rocket people.
beerslurpy said:That is really the saddest thing I have read in a while. I sickens me to think how much of my money is being used to fund an attack upon my rights at the hands of the various alphabet soup agencies and their minions.
Fletchette said:A little sub-story related to this case:
It seems that the ATF wanted to "prove" the dangers of allowing common proles such as ourselves to practice a hobby like model rocketry, so they designed a test. They bought 20 kits from a vendor (who initially refused to sell to them when he found out who they were but was hit with some sort of legal order forcing him to sell) and tried to shoot them off in a salvo from a van to hit a radio-controlled airplane. Well, as fate would have it, the rockets did not fire in a complete slavo, started a fire that ignited other rocket motors within the van, and completley burned the van to a crisp. Radio controlled airplane continued flying merrily along...
This incident was omitted from the court evidence, obviously. Daffy Duck could not have done better!
and completely burned the van to a crisp.
AZRickD said:Documentation?
I'd like to see that video placed on www.thatvideosite.com right next to the Rasta DEA buffoon.
Kodiaz said:If someone finds that video please post it.
ATFE Forces Aerotech To Provide Motors For ATFE Anti-Rocketry Video
link (http://www.space-rockets.com/arsanews#force)
December 20, 2003 - Since the publication by ARSA of the ATFE's attempt to produce an anti-rocketry video on the dangers of hobby rockets to commercial aircraft, vendors and manufacturers have refused to sell to the ATFE. This resulted in a letter from the ATFE to the president of Aerotech, Gary Rosenfield demanding that they deliver 40 G80 motors to the ATFE. The ATFE letter claimed the hobby rocket motors were needed in the interest of national security. The letter claimed Aerotech had no other option under the law and the motors were to be delivered to ATFE agent David Shatzer. Aerotech delivered the motors on December 9th.
Did The ATFE Accidently "Torch" Their Van?
link (http://www.space-rockets.com/arsanews#torch)
December 20, 2003 - Rumors have been circulating through the rocketry community for over a month that the ATFE accidently "torched" their van when trying to launch a high power rocket out of it. According to the story, the ATFE and their contractor Applied Research Associates were conducting tests on November 3rd to provide proof that high power rockets could be used to shoot down commercial aircraft during landings and takeoffs. (See related story by clicking here (http://www.space-rockets.com/arsanews#atfe).) Apparently, one of the motors failed upon ignition sending a burning gain into a box inside the van. The box contained several propellant grains for further tests that day. The propellant gains inside the box ignited. This resulted in the entire van being destroyed in a roaring inferno as ATFE agents and Applied Research Associate employees stood by and watched. Also, according to the story, video was taken of the test and the resulting fire. To complicate matters further for the ATFE, the van was believed to have been a rental.
ARSA has been trying to confirm or disprove this story, but has not been able to locate anyone with first hand knowledge of the incident. However, Bruce Kelly from the Tripoli Rocketry Association sent out a communication where they state the incident to be true.
=== Tripoli Statement To Members:
1. There is a rumor floating around about ATF "blowing up" a truck during the Utah tests. Most of what is being said is inaccurate. Here is what we know.
ATF, through the USAF, hired an independent contractor to conduct some tests. ATF purchased a number of J350, G80s and other motors for these tests. They also purchased some kits from at least 2 manufacturers. The tests, being conducted here in Utah (off I80, north of mile marker 60) have been taking place most of November through last week.
Supposedly, they affixed a launcher in the back of a van and were launching from the van. As to why, we can only speculate. They also had numerous reloads in the same van while launching. One of the J350s catoed and ignited the rest, burning the van to the ground. (It did not blow up, it just burned up.) So much for hired experts who supposedly should know better.
=== End of Tripoli Statement
AZRickD said:Here is the Rasta-DEA video -- this is the longest version I've found so far...
http://www.flurl.com/display_entry.php?id=121393
Merkin, just so you know, many rocket people are gun people. For the most part we're on the same side. Any victory against the BATFE is a victory for all of us.Merkin.Muffley said:This is unfortunate. If they're can't go on hassling the model rocket people - they be hassling gun owners. Personally, I'd rather they spend their time and our money on the rocket people.
RocketMan said:Merkin, just so you know, many rocket people are gun people. For the most part we're on the same side. Any victory against the BATFE is a victory for all of us.
Originally Posted by RocketMan Merkin, just so you know, many rocket people are gun people.
I'm sure Merkin was was jokin'. With a name like Merkin you know he has a sense of humor.
AZRickD said:Oh, so now you're the expert on Rocket guns, eh?
I'm guessing there was supposed to be a smiley after that?
Doo tell. However, if JPFO is correct bATFE 's strong suit has never been technology despite its charter which is to bureaucrat what is at its core issues of technology. bATFE is a bureaucracy first and foremost. It it wants to snap fingers and do things contrary to the laws of science it will do so.So, even the BATFE - home of the sixty-five thousand dollar conference table to discuss the sixty-four thousand dollar questions - can not change a propellant into an explosive.