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Rocket Hobbyists Get Blown Away by Regulations
dogfart writes "Amateur rocket hobbyists are bearing the brunt of Federal anti-terror efforts. Cumbersome regulations (which include extensive background checks) are pushing many to abandon the hobby. Even clubs associated with colleges (such as Kettering) have ended up folding under the pressure. Quoting the article: '"If we're in an environment where the government says you've got to get fingerprinted and background checked, and spend three to four months to do it, (adults are) not going to participate in my hobby," said Mark Bundick, president of the National Association of Rocketry. "We need more kids. It helps them learn technology. It's the technological base here in the country that we need to protect, and this hobby is a good introduction for kids that are interested in technology. If I lose those adults, then I will not be able to train those kids."'" We wrote about these regulations before, and followed it up with a Slashback.
That is all.
Well, tons of tools have been used to terrorize people. Probably the most widely used one is "bullets".
I'm an owl exterminator!
I don't want to sound like FUD but US aerospace regulations apply to other countries as well. The United States have jurisdiction in matters regarding anything that reaches a certain altitude. You can't do this ANYWHERE. You would have to get permission from the United States to be able to launch a rocket into space. Therefore, the United States is the gatekeeper to space. For example, what would pervent a terrorist in Mexico, which has very lax de facto terrorism screens, from launching a chemical weapon into the United States? This line of thinking is responsible for these regulations. Do not be suprised when regulations like these expand to communications. Transportation has already been taken care of in the form of aerospace regulations and the FAA. Communications will be next because of cyberterrorism. Just be aware of imperialism.