ARSA Legislative Update (WAS: please FAX and Phone Your Senators NOW!)

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izzy

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Senator Enzi (R-Wyoming) has asked that letters showing your desire for Legislative relief from ATF regulation be FAXed to your senators NOW. If you are unable to get through, you can continue over the weekend, but DO NOT fail to FAX your letter and follow it up with a phone call to verify it was received!

Senator Enzi's letter to Congress has been posted to https://www.space-rockets.com/enzi1.html - check it out!

For more information and tips on writing, visit https://www.v-serv.com/legislation

With EVERYONE's help, we will see the Democratic process in action.

P.S. - my three children are also sending handwritten letters with rocketry drawings!

Ismaeel "Izzy" Abdur-Rasheed
TRA 09217 NAR 80381
New York, NY
 
I didn't get mine out until today but, I DID get them out. I got slammed by that big ice storm and was without power for 46 hours! I'm now back in the world of modern conveniences. :D
 
I was able to get both faxes through yesterday and had what turned out to be very pleasant conversations with staffers for both of my Senators. Don't forget to get followup calls through to your Senators' staffs on Monday if you haven't done so today.
 
our success depends on how many letters get faxed to senators, and how many followup calls are made.

Things like emails, form letters and petitions are not very effective. What works is individuals writing personalized letters, then showing enough commitment to follow it up with a phone call.

The Congressional staffers actually keep track of every persons letter, and all subsequent communication. The staffers then let them know the current issues, and the level of interest.

By calling to follow up, you also communicate emotions that are not effectively transmitted in writing .. like the anquish of losing your small business as a hobby rocket materials supplier, or your frustration in having made such a large investment in the hobby, only to find you can't fly anymore, or the disappointment of the kids that don't have launches to go to see their 'creations' make it into the sky!

Talking to staffers also educates them, so they can better represent the issues to the Congressperson.

This is all a big part of the democratic process in action. Rather than be resigned that we cannot influence government, or simply sit on the sidelines and complain - to be actively involved by both voting and keeping your elected representatives informed - this is what makes a difference. After all, you are their constituents.

In the absence of constituent feedback, Congress has only the special interest groups, big business, and bureaucratics interested in little more than widening the extent of their control - to base their decisions upon.

get involved, make a difference

it is not naive, it is what distinguishes us from most of the world.

- iz
 
getting the national media on board would go along way towards saving hobby rocketry

this is an email sent to Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Network show "The Factor". I invite others to email Bill at [email protected]

don't be overly concerned about how well you write, the important thing is that you are concerned, and you feel that the issue is one that would concern some of his 10 million viewers nationwide

-----------------------------------------------

Bill,

There is a crisis that may mean the end of hobby rocketry and the inspiration it provides to future aerospace engineers.

"Why does ATF say [hobby rocket] motors can explode, when they can't? That's just plain sillyness. The President Bush said that we should not let terrorists change our life, so why can't we keep our fun and our hobby?" - Inqiyad Abdur-Rasheed, age 10, New York, NY

The Safe Explosives Act ammended to the Homeland Security Act has placed severe restrictions on the sale, transport, purchase and storage of hobby rocket motors and ignitors. As a result, USPS has refused to perform shipments.

With the new regulation, permits now require fingerprints, photos, background checks and expensive fees which are excessive to participation in a hobby. Storage requirments now make motor purchases out of reach of anyone without access to large rural property. As a result, the rocketry hobby itself, and the livelihood of manufacturers and vendors which support it, is at risk.

Senator Enzi (R-Wyoming) is about to introduce a bill to the Senate exempting hobby rocketry materials from regulation under the Safe Explosives Act.

National hobby rocketry organizations and their members who will be engaged in a faxed letter campaign to their senators in the coming week are

Amateur Rocketry Society of America
Tripoli Rocketry Association
National Association of Rocketry

John Wickman, CEO of Wickman Spacecraft and Propulsion Company (Casper, Wyoming) has been leading the campaign. For additional information, contact Mr. Wickman at (307) 265-5895, or via email at [email protected]

The following online resoources are also available:

a video of a Wisconsin news program reporting on the issue is available online at https://www.dph.com/vidroc/HSA

an article with quotes from Senator Enzi (R-Wyoming) and NASA astronaut Jay Apt is available online at https://www.space.com/missionlaunches/rocketry_security_020325.html

the Team America Rocketry Challenge is a nation-wide competition of High School students across the U.S. It is at risk of being cancelled due to the regulations. See https://www.fnal.gov/orgs/far/files/TeamAmerica.html for information about the competition.

additional information can be found at

https://www.space-rockets.com/arsanews and
https://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html

-----------------------------------------

I hope you find the opportunity to cover this on your excellent show.

Best regards,

Ismaeel Abdur-Rasheed
New York, NY
 
The fax machines have been printing away, but some are out of paper and out of memory to queue up until more paper is added. Be sure to have a letter ready to FAX tomorrow. When you do, or if you FAXed this weekend, be sure to call the office of the Senator you FAXed and confirm that the FAX was recieved,

"Things like emails, form letters and petitions are not very effective. What works is individuals writing personalized letters, then showing enough commitment to follow it up with a phone call.

The Congressional staffers actually keep track of every persons letter, and all subsequent communication. The staffers then let them know the current issues, and the level of interest.

By calling to follow up, you also communicate emotions that are not effectively transmitted in writing .. like the anquish of losing your small business as a hobby rocket materials supplier, or your frustration in having made such a large investment in the hobby, only to find you can't fly anymore, or the disappointment of the kids that don't have launches to go to see their 'creations' make it into the sky!

Talking to staffers also educates them, so they can better represent the issues to the Congressperson."

- iz
 
this is some current media coverage on the hobby rocketry crisis

25 February 2003
Explosive Regulations Threaten to Kill Model Rocketry
https://www.space.com/missionlaunches/rocketry_security_020325.html

Model rockets may be grounded
New rules from Homeland Security Act unfair, hobbyists say
https://www.msnbc.com/news/877295.asp?0cl=cR&cp1=1

27 February 2003
Klyde Morris cartoon on Homeland security affects on hobby rocketry
https://www.klydemorris.com/strips.cfm?Strip_ID=1047

As previously posted, theer is also a video clip of a television news story covering the impact of regulation on hobby rocketry and the Team America Rocketry Challenge is at

(Real format)

https://www.dph.com/vidroc/HSA/HSA_KTVU.rm

(AVI format)

https://www.dph.com/vidroc/HSA/HSA_KTVU_News.avi

please these out, and don't forget to write a letter and FAX it to your Senators. See the "Fax your Senator" topic for more information

- iz
 
People, please don't cross post. If you put your information in one thread, that is enough.
 
March 2, 2003

I want to let you know that the initial results of the fax and phone
campaign have been good. We have at least three new Senators who want to
help and one Senator leaning against has moved to the undecided column. It
should be noted that this Senator was one of the original sponsors of the
Safe Explosives Act. Candice Cotton reported that staff from other Senators
started calling to find out more information on the exemption as your faxes
and phone calls poured in on Friday.

Many of you were at work on Friday and did not learn about the start time
until you came home from work. Others could not phone or fax on Friday.
For those of you who have not faxed your letters or made phone calls to your
Senators, please do so on Monday or as soon as you can. Time is the one
thing we cannot waste. For those Senators who are undecided or against, we
would like as much time as possible to persuade them to our point of view.

Many of you have asked what is the next step. Senator Enzi and staff will
assess the support and opposition during the coming week. We may ask for
follow-up phone calls and/or faxes to selected Senators. If you have
already sent your faxes and made your phone calls, you can relax for now and
enjoy a feeling of accomplishment that is well deserved.

We are also tabulating any responses you have received from your two
Senator's staff. These responses would be supportive, indifferent or
against for each Senator (Please list by name). Email this information to me
as soon as you can so that I can forward the tabulated results to Senator
Enzi. Thank you.

This may be reposted to any forum or web site.

John Wickman
ARSA
 
It is important that you call to confirm your letter was recieved. This is imperative if you FAXed over the weekend, to insure that it got into a staffer's hands.

The Senators' staffmembers also catalog all letters and the followup that shows a high level of commitment to the issues raised. At the same time, you can add more of your personal experience of hobby rocketry and the impact that its loss will make in your life, and in the lives of your children.

good luck to us all!

- iz
 
a plan is underway to create a central web-based repository of news print articles and video clips of media coverage of the hobby rocketry issue, or links to media sites that have posted these materials.

please be on the lookout in your communities for any news coverage and make a note of the publication or broadcast channel, date, time and headline. If printed articles, get a copy to send in if necessary so we can get it on the site.

this will be very important in having a ready area for our Senators to reference to find out more about the impact of current regulations.

everyones help would be greatly appreciated.

and don't forget to FAX and call your own 2 Senators with your request that they support Senator Enzi's proposed bill to exempt hobby rocketry materials. See https://www.space-rockets.com/congress for more information.

- iz
 
Made my follow-up calls to my Kansas Senators this morning. These calls are very important to verify they received your fax. Senator Brownback's office here and in Washington were quick to tell me my faxes were received Friday. Senator Robert's office was another matter. They said they could not remember getting my fax. The staffer said if I would re-fax this morning she would verify to me she received it. She verified to me that she received it and assured me it woud be sent to Washington today.

Be persistant, but above all be pleasant. Senator's receive a lot of correspondence, especially faxes, take time and verify they received yours.

Swimmer
 
swimmer,

thanks fro posting your status.

When we are on the verification call, try get a sense of their receptivity.

We will need to get this kind of feedback to John Wickman.

- iz
 
my letters to Senators Clinton and Schumer went out today. Took alot of retreies, and in the case of Senator Schumer I had to call his NYC office for an alternate fax number. It appears that they have a couple in their D.C.. office, but only publish one.

The follow up calls went through within 2 minutes, and the faxes all were recieved in good order (I sent them in super-fine quality).

But the persons answering the phone seemed very preoccupied as if busy, and the background sounds in their offices indicated the same.

Senator Clinton's office said that they are "reviewing the issue and when they have formulated a response, they will get it roght out to [me]". Senator's Schumer's office said they would contact me if they had any questions.

Now I can breathe ... ;o)

- iz
 
There is a copy of Senator Enzi's bill in the "General Discussion" forum at Rocketry Online Discussion Forums. It is titled "Enzi's Bill by Gary Rosenfield. I wouldn't mention another forum but this is important. Sorry, Milo.

Swimmer
 
Faxed and called my two North Carolina senators today. Both apologized for not being able to confirm receiving my fax because of the vast number of faxes they've received. Senator Dole's staffer said that the senator was already up to speed on the matter, but didn't indicate where she stood. Senator Edwards' staffer listened politely to what I said and thanked me for calling, but didn't offer much feedback except to say that I would be getting a letter regarding my fax. I just hope we're making a difference.
 
WCCO from the Twin Cities (CBS affiliate) aired an interview with the local NAR chapter ex president. The ATF was invited as well.

"It was a well-done piece, very favorable. Russ Durkee (founder of MASA) got a great sound bite. The ATF was a no show. The post office promised to follow the law. An adult hobbiest (hobby store employee, I think) launched a rocket and talked intelligently about the safety of the hobby and the need not to overreact.

WCCO doesn't usually post video, but they may put the text up tomorrow"

- iz
 
"Word has it that the letter writing campaign is already having an impact on some Senators, who have contacted Senator Enzi's office inquiring about the issue. Do not underestimate the importance of this letter writing effort."

B Kelly
 
KTVU.com
https://www.ktvu.com/news/2008126/detail.html
Feds Making It Tough On Rocket Men
POSTED: 7:12 a.m. PST February 27, 2003
UPDATED: 7:50 a.m. PST February 27, 2003
EL CERRITO, Calif.

The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
https://www.news-register.net/edit/story/034202003_edt1.asp
Don't Permit ATF To Ground Hobby

WorldNetDaily
https://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31333
Air terror by remote control
Model planes, not just drones, latest threat
Posted: March 4, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Poynter Online
https://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=2&aid=22748
Al's Morning Meeting
Model Rocketry Doomed?
Posted, Mar. 2, 2003
Updated, Mar. 3, 2003

THE WASHINGTON TIMES
https://washingtontimes.com/national/20030303-50543080.htm
Toy rocket engines under ATF scrutiny
By Audrey Hudson
March 3, 2003

Educational Flying Model Rockets Ruled Terrorist Threat
https://www.scifitoday.com/story/2003/2/25/72638/9317
Posted on Tue Feb 25th, 2003 at 07:26:38 AM EST

Explosive Regulations Threaten to Kill Model Rocketry
https://www.space.com/missionlaunches/rocketry_security_020325.html
By Jim Banke
Senior Producer, Cape Canaveral Bureau
posted: 07:15 am ET
25 February 2003

Model Rockets May Be Grounded
https://www.msnbc.com/news/877295.asp
New rules from Homeland Security Act unfair, hobbyists say
By Jim Banke
HOUSTON, Feb. 25
 
I can understand that now that we've had the outlet to express our opinion after so much time waiting that it's tempting to grab the bull by the horns. The fact is, however, that as a hobby, we're a very very small one demographically.

It is very important to recognize that we will never be a part of the "public consciousness" over the long term no matter how much media attention we get right now. We need to use what media coverage we have the potential to get to our fullest advantage at the time that it's most advantageous to get it.

Someone needs to take the extra step to manage this. It's not THAT important to get the media coverage now. It WILL be that important, however, when Senator bill comes to a vote. How many media outlets are we burning up now, only to find out when it comes time for a Senate or House vote that the media outlets think it's something they covered a couple of months ago? Just remember...it matters to us...it's "human interest" to them and human interest stories are seldom revisited by the media unless they have a sufficient following, which we do not have . This is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to have a coordinated effort on the media front that will be as time sensitive as the faxing/calling effort has been.
 
-----------------------------------------------
Re: High power interests accused of conspiracy

As someone intimately involved in getting a rocketry exemption in the Safe Explosives Act, let me set the recorded straight on the ATF statement. First, you need a little history on all of this to put it in perspective.

In 1970, the Organized Crime Act created for the first time an "Explosives List" which was to be regulated by the ATF, a division of the Internal Revenue Service. At that time ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) was placed, for reasons unknown, on the Explosives List. From creation of the law up to 1997, the ATF's position was that consumer rocket motors were propellant activated devices and exempt from any ATF requirements for permits or licenses. In 1997, the ATF suddenly decided that only motors under 62.5 grams of propellant weight were exempt and motors with propellant over 62.5 grams needed a permit. This 62.5 exemption was never put into formal/published regulation by the ATF. It was a "shoot from the hip" regulation where the ATF threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone with a motor over 62.5 grams that did not have a permit. In August of 2002, the ATF published in their monthly newsletter that they were going to determine whether they would continue with the 62.5 gram exemption. The implied threat was that it could go away. Even by 2002, the ATF never put the 62.5 gram exemption into published, formal regulation. It was just selective prosecution. At the end of January 2003, the ATF for the first time proposed a formal 62.5 gram regulation. A regulation attached to a series of new regulations having nothing to do with rocketry. As I write this, there is still no official exemption for any size rocket motor in the code of federal regulations, only a proposed regulation.

As you can see from the history, the ATF at one time exempted all consumers rocket motors for over 26 years, then overnight, on a whim, the ATF decided on exempting only those motors under 62.5 grams. The change in 1997 dealt a blow to most consumer rocket motor manufacturers. Estes Industries being a notable exception. All of their motors where under the 62.5 gram limit. What is to prevent the ATF from changing the 62.5 gram limit downward later this year after the media spotlight is gone and Congress adjourns. Nothing. The rocketry community has no protection in United States Code. That is what we are asking for. We are asking for what the ATF gave consumer rocketry for over 26 years before they whimsically changed their minds. We are asking for a complete exemption from the explosives act in United States Code for the protection of the ENTIRE rocketry hobby from the ATF.

It is very short sighted for Estes to look the other, in exchange for an exemption. An exemption which the ATF in their own newsletter, six months ago, indicated they were ready to eliminate. Without the efforts of ARSA, TRA, NAR and Senator Enzi, one can only wonder if the proposed 62.5 gram exemption by the ATF would be made. Estes Industries may want to think about that.

John Wickman
Amateur Rocketry Society of America
-----------------------------------------------

the original allegation can be found in the article at https://www.atf.treas.gov/explarson/safexpact/modelrockets.htm

[ posted by iz ]
 
call the two Senators from the state where you live. you can get their phone numbers from www.senate.gov by selecting your state in the pulldown box. Their Washington D.C. numbers will show up. If you click on the hyperlink for their name, you may also get local numbers for your state, but since this is a federal regulation issue it is preferable if you can call the D.C. offices. Remember, you have TWO senators, and you want to call them BOTH.

Tell them you want to talk to somebody about the Homeland Security Act's affect on hobby rocketry.

if you get a machine, leave a polite message and with number. Make sure you say where you live, too. You can tell them briefly how you feel, and say you would like someone to call you back. Make sure tou say your number slowly and clearly, and repeat it twice.

if you get through, again, tell them where you are from, and that you would like to talk to someone about ... (as above). They might just take your information and have get back to you.

or, they might put you through to someone, or they might offer to talk to you themselves. The Senators have a staff who take responsibility for different areas, so its best if you get to talk to the staffer that is dealing with Homeland Security issues. Otherwise, it might not find its way to the right place to make a difference.

just relate your personal experiences, and how you feel. Nothing is more powerful than the truth.

thanks for stepping up to the plate!

- iz
 
call the two Senators from the state where you live.
Click to expand...

Yes. This was clear from the original post and the ARSA news site. You're preaching to the choir. I'm not intending to be offensive, but this is getting redundant. I have faxed and called both Senators just as advised on the ARSA site weeks ago. I have also contacted local media outlets and forwarded the results to the appropriate place as well as alerting them to places to look for future results. I have also cautioned to save the pages on the server as opposed to just linking to them, since many smaller news outlets will delete the pages after a few weeks.

Again, not to offend, but I come here to see what people are building and what they're up to on a personal level. I check ROL (sorry Milo, Phil, and moderators) for updates on the political and media front, not here.

Yet again, because I don't want to make you mad and I support your efforts 110%, I apologize for posting this, but I just don't look forward to seeing this here. I just come here to see some freakish new Tulanko creation or Fliskits masterpiece or some wild new scratchbuilt idea. Or, on the odd occasion, to bore the snot out of everyone with new pics of construction of my latest project (that has inevitably been done either bigger or smaller already by someone else).

Peace.

Jon
 

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