Citing Terror Fears, Sens. Schumer, Lautenberg Oppose Loosened Rocket Hobby Rules

Associated Press ^ | Jul 29, 2003 | Devlin Barrett

[New Horizon]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A bill to loosen federal restrictions for model rocket enthusiasts drew fire Tuesday from senators from New York and New Jersey, who said the proposal would give terrorists access to dangerous explosives. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized the measure by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., to change the Homeland Security Act to allow rocket enthusiasts to buy black powder and another form of high-powered rocket propellant without submitting to a background check. The act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Standing next to a seven-foot tall rocket, Schumer said the legislation effectively would allow would-be terrorists to amass large quantities of explosives.

"Sometimes you see things in Congress that make you scratch your head in wonderment," said Schumer. "This is one of those days."

He and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said passage of the bill would allow terrorists to stockpile the same material used in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta and a bomb sent by "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski in 1985.

The Justice Department also has opposed Enzi's bill, saying in a June 10 letter the current regulations exempt 90 percent of rocket hobbyists and require background checks only for those who use the largest rockets.

The Homeland Security Act requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to monitor the purchase and transfer of any chemical mixture or device with the primary function of causing an explosion.

"It's a sad state of affairs when we see a government agency and senators go to such lengths to squash efforts to preserve a constructive, educational and important hobby enjoyed by millions of Americans," Enzi said. "My bill is not a license to build bombs, and the senators know it."

Tim Lehr, rocket manager at Al's Hobby Shop in Elmhurst, Ill., said the restrictions are killing the rocket hobby business and are an unnecessary hassle for hobbyists.

"It's going to put dealers out of business, period," said Lehr. He predicted the hobby will die out within five years because no one new will pick it up knowing the bureaucratic hurdles of background checks, storage requirements and governmental oversight.

Two rocketry groups, the National Association of Rocketry and the Tripoli Rocketry Association, accused the senators of equating hobbyists with terrorists. In a statement, the associations called the issue "a prime example of the government overreacting to something that is not a threat."

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On the Net:

National Association of Rocketry: http://www.nar.org

Tripoli Rocketry Association: http://www.tripoli.org

[El Gato]

passage of the bill would allow terrorists to stockpile the same material used in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta and a bomb sent by "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski in 1985.

Yea, blackpowder, the same stuff that it has been the birthright of Americans to possess since well before 1775. It was one target of the arms raid by the BATFE redcoats through Lexington to Concord which set off the American Revolutionary war. Its possession has is protected by both the 2nd and 9th amendments to the Constitution, since passage of the Bill of Rights.

It's no coicidence that these guys are also first rank gun-grabbing Clymers.

[kylaka]

And Chuckie Schumer would have us a believe that federal law applies worldwide.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

This anti toy rocket legislation officially makes the US more totalitarian than Stalin's Soviet Union.

Idiot monkeyboy Schumer.

The hobby of rocketry develops scientists of the future.
I guess Upchuck Schumer can't kill America fast enough.

[beelzepug]

In other news, Senators Henny Penny and Chicken Little today voiced opposition to.....

[beelzepug]

Idiot monkeyboy Schumer - ha! You do have a way with words.

[pabianice]

If Schumer's brain were rocket propellant, he wouldn't be able to lift his head off the pillow...

[neutrino]

(Sigh). I remember with great pleasure the little model rockets I used to use. They were simple little affairs of balsa and glue, with a small plastic parachute.

I'm glad I was born before all of this nonsense. I frankly pity the young people of today.

[dead]

Are there any beds on the Senate floor for these two to hide under?

[blau993]

Standing next to a seven-foot tall rocket, Schumer said . . .

Oh, but I do hope somebody has and will post the photo of little Chuckie standing next to that big old rocket. Sight unseen, I am laughing already.

[B Knotts]

There is but one word in the English language which succinctly describes Chuckie Schumer: GOOF.

Well, that and "putz-head," but I'm not sure that's an actual word.

[B Knotts]

Ask and you shall recieve:

[Orangedog]

If you drained all the bull-$hit out of Schumer, you could bury whats left of him in a matchbox.

Good thing he wasn't calling the shots when Goddard was experimenting in rocketry a century ago...considering that VonBraun based his work on Goddard's. Now we would all be deprived of the wack-jobs who say we faked the Apollo moon landings.

[kaktuskid]

How about "schmuck"!!!

[Orangedog]

The most dangerous place to be in Washington DC is between Schumer and a camera.

[Fzob]

Standing next to a seven-foot tall rocket, Schumer said the legislation effectively would allow would-be terrorists to amass large quantities of explosives.

"Sometimes you see things in Congress that make you scratch your head in wonderment," said Schumer. "This is one of those days."

Irony bump

[Bedford Forrest]

"Sometimes you see things in Congress that make you scratch your head in wonderment"

Yes indeed, things like the high number of these arrant quisling fascists sitting in the US Senate - all united in their seething hatred of freedom, Real Americans and one nation, under God.

[AFreeBird]

If Schumer's brain were rocket propellant, he wouldn't be able to lift his head off the pillow...

Damn you! Beer through the nose and onto the keyboard and screen is a messy, not to mention somewhat stinging, action.

[Sacajaweau]

I think you should have to register all box cutters, too...and scissors, and umbrellas (remember the ricin assassination)

[mr.pink]

If kids can't experiment with rockets it will set the hamster, gerbil, and frog space program back 20 years.