CompuServe Messages

Todd You definitely got us going with those first couple messages, but you apparently don't really think we should be kicked off the land. I do not understand your point of comparing collecting minerals and fossils on public land with stealing from someones home, or mine. Stealing is stealing no matter where. Nathan and Doug pretty well answered things and covered most of the subject. Minerals, fossils and gems are just more resources. They belong to everyone, and thus should be accesible to everyone. If an individual has no interest in them, then fine, he/she can leave them alone, but should not restrict those of us who care and are interested from touching them. It is the same with every other resource: a non-fishe has no right or good reason to stop another from fishing; someone may not like logging but loggers don't cut down trees to be destructive they produce the the timber which becomes the lumber that people buy to build homes–the same goes for miners etc. People who don't have any interest in collecting minerals and fossils should not tell me I can't touch them, just like I have no right to order all ski resorts removed, all boat launching factilities removed, etc. Some of us look for the scientific value of minerals, fossils, etc. as much or more than the aesthetic and ownership value. I hope this country doesn't become so short sighted that we stop another group of scientific endeavors. Unfortunately, some people throw in a lot of emotional material in such discussions as these which tend to cloud the issue or cause strong emotional reactions that are not warrented, such as your reference to stealing. Collecting shouldn't be allowed everywhere, but only specific areas where there are problems should there be restrictions. Most lands seem to be getting along just fine as are. Yes, collecting sites should be documented and recorded. They should be made known to everyone interested. That is why we have several hobby magazines loaded with articles on localities and also many guidebooks. The information is being shared. But, this hobby is like everything else in life, there are people who are in it only for the money and some of them will break the law. That shouldn't mean the rest of the people should be punished. My favorite collecting locality was recently closed by the Forest Service–the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho. One of the complaints was the commercial production (which unfortunately was way over reported. this is not an easy area to find anything in). So the Forest Service shut it down. Now best as I can determine from what I hear at gem and mineral shows, those of us who obey the laws and try to be careful, etc. are not collecting in there, but those who are trying to make money out of it and were breaking the law by attempting commercial collecting, still are. Lanny