You might want to sign this...

[steve m]

Here's a link. Trying to pass a bill to make it illegal to metal detect in Oregon..Hope it don't pass...
http://www.petitiononline.com/ORBill64/petition.html

[gold fish]

Signed.

[Leon]

Signed, ( &$%$&$@$@$ ) <Comment about the greedy people who won't be happy until they have it all...

[chibear]

Signed: Thank you for posting this proposed bill..... We need to get all over this...

HH chibear

[danny64]

the senate will win becouse thay take kick backs from the rich or thay will tax us 4mding hh all

[buscadero]

Thanks, Steve! I signed cause I was horrified by this Bill! If it passes, so much for visiting Oregon!

Joe

[Neil in West Jersey]

State Of Oregon - Senate Bill 64
"In summary, It makes it illegal for even a landowner to pick up artifacts on his own property. "

I think this may have challanges with the ACLU when it comes to private property. There are other issues as well; Is an 1898 nickel an artifact? How about a milk bottle from the 1950's? Native American artifacts are another issue entirely, but without any legal definition on artifiacts, this bill cannot pass. I read the summary, but to me the term "historic artifact" is very vague. What does "historic significance" mean? I couldn't find a legal definition.

According to the state:

358.635 Definitions for ORS 358.635 to 358.653. As used in ORS 358.635 to 358.653:

(1) "Historic artifacts" means three-dimensional objects including furnishings, art objects and items of personal property which have historic significance.


358.905 Definitions for ORS 358.905 to 358.961; interpretation. (1) As used in ORS 192.005, 192.501 to 192.505, 358.905 to 358.961 and 390.235:

(a) "Archaeological object" means an object that:

(A) Is at least 75 years old;

(B) Is part of the physical record of an indigenous or other culture found in the state or waters of the state; and

(C) Is material remains of past human life or activity that are of archaeological significance including, but not limited to, monuments, symbols, tools, facilities, technological by-products and dietary by-products.

(b) "Site of archaeological significance" means:

(A) Any archaeological site on, or eligible for inclusion on, the National Register of Historic Places as determined in writing by the State Historic Preservation Officer; or

(B) Any archaeological site that has been determined significant in writing by an Indian tribe.

(c)(A) "Archaeological site" means a geographic locality in Oregon, including but not limited to submerged and submersible lands and the bed of the sea within the state's jurisdiction, that contains archaeological objects and the contextual associations of the archaeological objects with:

(i) Each other; or

(ii) Biotic or geological remains or deposits.

(B) Examples of archaeological sites described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph include but are not limited to shipwrecks, lithic quarries, house pit villages, camps, burials, lithic scatters, homesteads and townsites.

(d) "Indian tribe" has the meaning given that term in ORS 97.740.

(e) "Burial" means any natural or prepared physical location whether originally below, on or above the surface of the earth, into which, as a part of a death rite or death ceremony of a culture, human remains were deposited.

(f) "Funerary objects" means any artifacts or objects that, as part of a death rite or ceremony of a culture, are reasonably believed to have been placed with individual human remains either at the time of death or later.

(g) "Human remains" means the physical remains of a human body, including, but not limited to, bones, teeth, hair, ashes or mummified or otherwise preserved soft tissues of an individual.

(h) "Object of cultural patrimony":

(A) Means an object having ongoing historical, traditional or cultural importance central to the native Indian group or culture itself, rather than property owned by an individual native Indian, and which, therefore, cannot be alienated, appropriated or conveyed by an individual regardless of whether or not the individual is a member of the Indian tribe. The object shall have been considered inalienable by the native Indian group at the time the object was separated from such group.

(B) Does not mean unassociated arrowheads, baskets or stone tools or portions of arrowheads, baskets or stone tools.

(i) "Police officer" has the meaning given that term in ORS 181.610.

(j) "Public lands" means any lands owned by the State of Oregon, a city, county, district or municipal or public corporation in Oregon.

(k) "Sacred object" means an archaeological object or other object that:

(A) Is demonstrably revered by any ethnic group, religious group or Indian tribe as holy;

(B) Is used in connection with the religious or spiritual service or worship of a deity or spirit power; or

(C) Was or is needed by traditional native Indian religious leaders for the practice of traditional native Indian religion.

(L) "State police" has the meaning given that term in ORS 181.010.

(2) The terms set forth in subsection (1)(e), (f), (g), (h) and (k) of this section shall be interpreted in the same manner as similar terms interpreted pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. [1983 c.620 §1; 1993 c.459 §1; 1995 c.588 §1]

[MalteseFalcon]

Argh....that is stupid.

Who is the idiot that introduced that legislation??
They need to be "DE-elected" come 2008!

[Dunky]

Signed. And I thought Maine was bad. Last year they were thinking of a hiking tax. You'd have to pay a tax to go for a walk. It didn't go through,......imagine that?

[Stormtrooper154]

Signed.

[Southern_Boy]

Signed and I am against it! Why would they want to do it?

[UnknownBounty]

This is just insane, they are really trying to rape our rights away! Not allowed to dig on your own property! WHAT ON EARTH! what if i found an indian head cent working in the garden? am i some criminal. Some polititions are completly off the wall, who ever even thought of coming up with this? No wonder teenagers do drugs and vandalise now a days, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO, everything is a crime, so what's wrong in commiting them? What next, were not allowed to pee in the woods, or cook your own vegetables. Just another process of mass population control. FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT!

[UnknownBounty]

What's funny too, is that Whites Metal Detectors are MADE in oregan! Passing bills against our hobbies, what shall we do than?



REVOLT!

[MikeOregon]

DO NOT WORRY, THIS IS NOT REALLY A BILL BEFORE THE OREGON LEGISLATURE

I sent an e-mail today to a state senator's office referring to this post, and here is the reply:

Hi,

Senate Bill 64 relates to a request from the State Treasurer's office to
exempt certain investment records from the Public Records Law -- no
mention of metal detecting there. I also did a word search of all
Senate and House bills and didn't turn up anything under "metal
detecting" or variations of that. And I checked Senate Bill 64 in the
2005 session -- it had to do with archeological explorations on state
lands, but again no mention of metal detecting.

None of which means there couldn't be a bill floating around that has to
do with that, but it's doubtful, and it certainly isn't SB 64. So I
think your hobby is safe.

If you get any other clues or information about it, let me know, and
I'll keep checking.

Cheers,

Don Bishoff
Legislative Assistant to Senator Bill Morrisette

So, everyone please take a deep breath. It's good to be vigilant, but I also recommend checking on things before you get too upset.

Best wishes to all,

Mike

[Neil in West Jersey]

Upon further investigation, there is (or was) a bill "73rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2005 Regular Session", "Relating to archaeological permit issuance on private lands"

http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/mea.../sb0064.a.html

[buscadero]

It';s better to overreact than to let the Bast#$%& sneak one by us! "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"

HH Joe

[thompy]

signed, i would have thought there would have been more signatures

[Mark S.]

This bill is old news. It PASSED the Senate in 2005. It went to the House where it stayed in committee. In the 2007 session it has not been resubmitted in the House Even if it was an active bill it would be in the House not the Senate. I have been watching closely for it to surface.

As far as this SB64 goes it is a dead issue.

Mark Schuessler
FMDAC Alliance Liaison

[MDING TOM]

SINGED: when they start in one city it will spread through out the U.S. and we dont want that