Folks, I spend much of my time traveling long distances from my home and family so to possibly help open our recreational past time into new and exciting areas for the future of the sport. Nothing makes me more proud than someone like this person who not only listen to what I had to say about my meeting with the U.S. Forest Service, but is working to take steps for the future of our hobby. As you can read below, he is putting his very best foot forward for us all. This was something I had hoped would catch on across our country with many of our hobbyist involved, for it can only work if we have our many groups involve across America. I can say thus far, Jimmy is the First I have heard of, God Bless Him, my hat is off to him! Keith Wills

----- Original Message -----

Who will join me in a tent or in a camper?  Who will devote a few days of volunteer time to help our hobby help the National Forest Service?  We only have a few days left to sign up so think about this opportunity quick and let me know.

 

Louisiana

 

In Christ,
Jimmy McWilliams, President
ACTS (Association of Christian Treasure Searchers)

A MONTANA TALE

A GREAT SUGGESTION TO ALL

This is a suggestion I gave to a fellow th’er in Virginia who is having problems in his area in enjoying recreational metal detecting. He has heard all the old excuses and has been passed off from one authority to another until he doesn’t know what to do next. I felt it would be a good suggestion to all what I suggested to him. 

Thanks much Dave for contacting me on this, I feel I can help you and the

other th'ers in Virginia, but since I don't live there, you and your hunting

buddies will have to do all the legwork, as residents it is best anyway.

First let me say that City Ordinances are set by the City Council, no one

else, not state, not federal, just them. Although, the City or County may

have to abide by some federal regulations on federal lands within City or

County properties, the Federal Government can not set the laws and

Ordinances of either unless Marshall Law is bestowed on them. So what you

were handed, as an excuse was a common line to get rid of you.

First, you will need to address the city council if hunting city property,

such as courthouse lawns, school yards and city parks/ball fields. Some

tools that will help you get a positive reply to your visit is such things

as "your a member of a local treasure club that teaches a strict

code-of-ethics" (have that code of ethics with you to show them). Second, it

is always best to have some type of "portfolio" showing newspaper articles

and published articles of you and other hobbyist as yourself good deeds in

the community (helping law enforcement, returning lost items to their owners

and etc) to also show them. You can also download a copy of our national

policy with the Army Corps of Engineers we have had since 1989 from my

website at www.brokendetector.com and remind them it is a national policy of

which we have not had a single incident since 1989 and that the Corps

consider us as better help in keeping their properties clean than they do of

their own personnel. And you can also remind them that 38 states in America

allow some type of metal detecting recreation within their state parks.

For them to use the liability excuse means they must have liability releases

for every person that recreates on that property, whether it be playing

dominos or football. For metal detecting is a much less dangerous national

sport than most sports allowed on their properties. So if they hold to that

excuse, then it is nothing but discrimination against the recreational hobby

of metal detecting.

If it is a County Park or County property, then you do the same as I have

stated above but before the County Judge. You can go before the County

Commissioners, but I have found that a single County Judge is much easier to

get permission from or a permit from. I always begin him a peanut butter jar

of pulltabs, rusty metal, fishhooks and such I have collected off one of

the County Parks beaches or swimming area. I give it to the judge as a

paperweight for his desk and to remind him of just how much we are cleaning

his recreational areas for free. He can't say that about many in his county

I assure you.

All this would be best served if several of you all got together and

addressed these folks with the info. in hand that I suggested. Don't be

afraid to borrow from others to make your point. In short, if you don't have

your own portfolio (which you should especially if your in a club) then for

$12.00 I’ll mail you the Texas State Portfolio and you can use it as an

example, but one from your own group there is much more powerful a tool.

These folks you face to support your cause, must be educated, made to feel

that if they vote against you they are discriminating against you and many

others like you.

Many cities are going to the permit system and why is because someone in the

past has damaged their properties while detecting, leaving their holes open

and the junk they dig throw about. If it were your property, you would

possibly do the same. We must respect that and with understanding try to

educate them, that not all of us are infact out there to only damage what we

touch.

I have spent many years now trying to open areas for metal detecting, the

most recent in Washington DC where I sat down with the Forest Service to

work on an agreement hopefully we will all see soon. Back in 1989, I was

successful in opening the Army Corps of Engineers properties in designated

areas for all to enjoy recreational metal detecting. Since then I have sat

before so many judges, city councils, county commissioners, state

commissioners and federal judges. I promise you, they will listen to those

that act and sound intelligent. Just as they will turn-off to those that

rant and rave, scream and yell at them.

I sincerely hope that this has helped. Please feel free at anytime to ask for my assistance. I'm very happy to help if I can.

Sincerely, Keith R. Wills, president W.W.A.T.S.

www.wwats.org