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Rocket Hobbyists Prevail Over Feds In Court Case
Ellis D. Tripp writes "DC District Court judge Reggie Walton has finally ruled in the 9-year old court case pitting the model rocketry community against the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ruling is a 'slam dunk' for the rocketry community, stating that the BATFE ignored scientific evidence and overstepped its bounds by classifying ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) as an 'explosive.' Effective immediately, the BATFE has no legal jurisdiction over hobby rocket motors, and a federal Low Explosives User's Permit will no longer be needed in order to purchase APCP motors. The full text of the Judge's decision is reproduced at the link."
I had a few glasses of wine, but let me remind you that we are a long way off from freedom over safety, unless we indulge in the academic spirit our ancestors had so much off:
http://www.lateralscience.co.uk/Fluorine/Fluorine.html
Check out this part at the end,
"My own experience with fluorine has been solely with its compounds. In particular, natural calcium fluoride crystals (fluorite or fluorspar). Also hydrofluoric acid, during a highly ill-advised "experiment" conducted in the clean room of a semiconductor manufacturer unwise enough to employ me.... "
Pretty contermporary I must say.
So are you going to scold me when I wonder which rocketry amateur is ever going to use Flourine as a part of rocket fuel?
Well maybe there is a middle ground somewhere we all can enjoy in relative safety, like how about ozone as an oxidizer?
Still pretty explosive I would say.
I for one am glad for all of us just having ammonium perchlorate for now. I suppose that is why you put safety in apostrophes. Maybe you should have put freedom in apostrophes instead?
Je me souviens.
I hate to say this, but it probably depends on how big your rockets are.......
At least the current administration is (hopefully) going to lean towards scientific progress instead of away. Chemistry kits and model rockets shouldn't be looked at as threats to security.
For best results, avoid doing stupid things.
't wasn't perchlorate but nitrate IIRC, that destroyed the complete french AZF plant in the city of Toulouse's suburbs, leaving a definitely war-like scenery. Was in sept. 21, 2001 so indeed scary believe me. 29 casualties, countless wounded, explosion was heard 50 miles away.
A friend of mines was working kilometres from there in a building whose complete frontage fell down in front of her.
So well. Not ammonium perchlorate but ammonium nitrate...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AZF?bcsi-ac-ED4481DDE3DE1057=18BDC0EE00000203sh7mtJMzRnjkMofxetcnL1GX+ybEAQAAAwIAAH/ogQAQDgAADQAAAOzTAQA=
Herve S.