Thanks Coily, I hunt in MA every year and signed the petition although I haven't hunted state owned beaches there. I just hate to give my e-mail to these organizations and believe they should be happy with my name and address. I hope I won't have to fight through tons of spam for doing so.
I hear ya Gunsil.I did just receive an email from the originator of the petition and here it what was said below this post. I can agree with him that once the ball gets rolling metal detecting might be banned in other places as well which would be a shame. Read reply below....
First I'd like to thank everyone that has signed and shared my petition regarding the banning of metal detecting on Massachusetts DCR run beaches.
Apparently there were public hearings held in 2013 regarding the changing of regulations as they pertain to property operated by Mass DCR (Dept. of Conservation & Recreation). I was not aware of these meetings or changes, therefore i wasn't able to attend or attempt to address it at that time.
So when I was told on the beach that "things are changing" and metal detecting is no longer allowed, I felt the need to do something. I decided to start a petition to see what kind of response I could get to try and fight this "change' in the rules for beach metal detecting. as of this email writing there are 469 signatures but I hope to have at least 1,000 signatures before attempting to hand it over to the DCR Commissioner.
There is also the concern that the petition will draw attention to beach metal detecting or detecting as a whole and cause more problems. This I'm not sure about, to me there is clearly going to be a ban on metal detecting DCR beaches in Mass because that DCR Ranger that approached me was adament about it and walked a long way to tell me. He also told me there was a "meeting" and Rangers were ordered to enforce this.
So, my feeling is that I wait to get at least 1,000 signatures and I will continue to detect those beaches and see what happens. I know there are a couple others that I know that will continue to detect those beaches and will let me know if they are ordered to leave and/or ticketed.
I don't want to 'open a can of worms" but at the same time I don't want to lose the right to beach metal detect. What will be next, parks and woodlands?
Please keep sharing and encouraging others to sign the petition, even if they don't live in Massachusetts. People do come from other states to vacation and metel detect. massachusetts has some of the oldest and historic beaches in the USA. Help me preserve our right to engage in our hobby of metal detecting in Massachusetts.
Thank you
Roger Barbrick
Concerned detectorist
