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Select Here to View the MDHTALK's November News Brief in Adobe .PDF
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| November 2021 | Metal Detecting Hobby Talk News Brief Volume 11 Number 140 |
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Support The Hobby I would like to point out to the News Brief readers that there are a number of organizations taking on the challenge against various types of legislation dealing with metal detecting and gold prospecting. MDHTALK's recommendation is to visit their website and give strong consideration to joining the fight. In some cases your support may be to send emails and / or write a letter to specific legislators or to provide funds to help with the fight. Here are the organizations and a link to their website. |
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MDHTALK News Pages U.S. & W.W. News U.K. News U.S. Archaeology U.S. Legislation W.W. Meteoritic Other Media MDHTALK Article Links Return Stories MDHTALK Find a Club Read Newsletters FaceBook Clubs MDHTALK Event Calendar November |
What is a News Brief? The news brief provides a brief look into any news event. The intent of the news brief is to provide you, the reader, with news clips on what was taking place in the hobby last month. To read the whole story select the Article Link or go to MDHTALK.org. There are more news stories placed on the MDHTALK website for October the news stories listed in the MDHTALK News Brief are just a portion of all the hobby related news reported the past month. The news Brief is now available in Adobe PDF format, there is a link at the top of this webpage. The news brief is no longer emailed; it is only available on the MDHTALK website and can be downloaded. The Website's featured article for this month is: Cemetery Metal Detecting Download This Article Ethics for Responsible Metal Detecting:
 The Ethics of Metal Detecting around or in a Cemetery is a Legal, Moral and
Public Perception issue for the metal detecting hobbyist. Cemeteries are
found on church grounds and old cemeteries, settler cemeteries, civil war
cemeteries can be found on private or public lands. Today’s highly used
cemeteries are everywhere. An ethical prohibition exists for metal detectorist where you know the deceased have been laid to rest. Also, in the past, the deceased may have been buried just outside of the known bounds of a historical or old cemetery. This may have taken place because the relatives could not afford a plot in the cemetery proper, or the deceased were buried before the cemetery boundaries were established. The situation is, if you make a decision to metal detect in or outside the boundaries of a cemetery you may be detecting over a deceased person’s grave. I sincerely hope that detectorist consider how one’s action of detecting cemeteries can affect the negative perception that the public develops for all metal detectorists. First let’s explorer the legality of metal detecting in or around cemeteries.  The law that has the greatest effect on metal detecting cemeteries is the
Trespass Law that concern private or public properties. There are trespass
laws in all states, counties and cities that cover the same
thing-trespassing without permission on property.Here is an example of the California Trespass Law. This example probably represents trespass laws that can be found most everywhere in the U.S. California Penal Code 602 PC defines the crime of trespassing as entering or remaining on someone else’s property without permission or a right to do so. The offense is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail and a fine of $1000.00. In the case of a cemetery, the owner of the cemetery property owns the land for roads or lanes, walking paths and other areas within the cemetery boundary. Then there is the ownership of the individual cemetery plots where the deceased are buried. These plots are also private property and should be covered under any trespass laws. The land that borders a cemetery can either be public land or under private property ownership. These lands are also covered by trespass laws. So just don't go in the cemetery with the intention of metal detecting. If you can't find good places to metal detect besides cemeteries, you should change hobbies. The Federal 1990 Native American Graves Protection Act, probably does not apply to metal detecting most know cemeteries but could potentially be applied to civil war and early settler cemeteries. This act covers Native American and must be followed at all times and in all situations. Second what are the moral issues associated with metal detecting in a cemetery.  Definition: Morality is a principle concerning the distinction between right
and wrong, good and bad behavior, or a system of values and principles of
conduct, held by society.Some detectorist may say the practice of detecting a cemetery is OK as long as the detectorist has cleared it with a cemetery official, uses proper recovery methods and keeps to the lanes and walkways. However, the public at large may view any type of metal detecting in any old or new cemetery very negatively. This negative public view will affect all metal detectorist in the long run even if no law is broken or permission was given to go there. Common sense should tell you just don't go in the cemetery or around a cemetery with the intention of metal detecting. Everyone should agree that metal detectors will never be used over or around graves and detectorist shouldn't carry shovels into cemeteries unless they want to spend the rest of their day talking with the police. .Be Respectful of the Graves don't touch any monuments or headstones. This is not only disrespectful, but may cause damage to the memorials, especially older ones. Never remove anything from a gravesite or gravestone, such as flowers, coins, or tributes that have been left by family members. Third what is met by public perception of metal detecting in a cemetery. Just don't do it. If you can't find good places to metal detect besides cemeteries, you should change hobbies. The public does not understand that detectors only detect target a few inches below the surface from their perspective they detect far deeper. One can understand why people would want to search around/in graveyards. There are probably old coins/relics that mourning people have placed or dropped on grave sites. The feeling maybe that the deceased resting in the graveyard won’t care if you detect there. The people driving by or visiting a grave would definitely take offense of somebody swinging a detector and digging in the cemetery. There are other places to go detect. Searching in or around cemeteries is very disrespectful and bad for the image of all detectorist. Metal detecting in a cemetery does not create a good hobby image. Regardless of the law never metal detect inside any cemetery boundary or even outside of the physical boundaries of a cemetery. Since this could provide the public with a very disturbing image of a metal detectorist. In Conclusion: A metal detectorist needs to consider the trespass law, the morality and the public perception of metal detecting in or around a cemetery. Also, the Metal Detecting Code of Ethics is against detecting in cemeteries and finally a set Cemetery Etiquette needs to be followed by detectorist. The consensus is that it is extremely disrespectful to detect in cemeteries both to the dead and their living families. Digging in graveyards gives fuel to those who wish to paint detectorist as very cold-hearted. It's just not right and it’s disrespectful to go near grave sites with a detector. It doesn't matter the age or location of the cemetery. Just Don't Metal Detect a Cemetery. Cemetery Etiquette Website A cemetery is a unique place. While it is part of the everyday scene, it is not part of everyday life. That is to say, it is a place where tranquility and quiet are the desired norm, and activities of everyday life should be suspended. Desert Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park Website Cemetery visitors should:
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General U.S. and World Wide Hobby News
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Other News Sources
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Noreen and Michael Wredberg found the diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
This sounds like a pretty good way to spend a vacation.br />
A California couple visited a state park in Arkansas and made an amazing discovery. While they may have shown up hoping to spend some time with nature, they left with a massive diamond. Noreen and Michael Wredberg live in Granite Bay, Calif., and have spent the last decade visiting the country’s various national parks. During a trip to Arkansas, they visited the Crater of Diamonds State Park, according to a news release from the Arkansas State Parks. According to the release, Arkansas is the only state in the country to have a diamond mine open to the public. Noreen says she had heard about the park on TV years ago and wanted to visit. She and her husband arrived on September 23 of this year. While there, they participated in a diamond hunt. While Noreen wanted to stay near the entrance, her husband suggested moving to a nearby field where it was a bit warmer. While searching there, Noreen found a 4.38-carat diamond. The Arkansas State Parks website says that it is the largest diamond found at the state park so far this year. Park Superintendent Caleb Howell inspected the diamond and said, "When I first saw this diamond under the microscope, I thought, ‘Wow, what a beautiful shape and color!’ Mrs. Wredberg’s diamond weighs more than four carats and is about the size of a jellybean, with a pear shape and a lemonade yellow color." According to Park Interpreter Waymon Cox, the area is routinely prepared to help visitors find diamonds. "We plow the search area periodically to loosen the soil and promote natural erosion," he explained. "Diamonds are somewhat heavy for their size and lack static electricity, so dirt doesn’t stick to them. When rain uncovers a larger diamond and the sun comes out, its reflective surface is often easy to see. |
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Metal Detecting & Gold Prospecting Events.
Now is the time to start planning and getting your club's 2021/22 hunt information on the web. The sooner it is out and available to the metal detecting community the greater the chance for people to see it and give your event some consideration. Check out your event before going it may have been postponed or canceled. |
Select here to View the Complete Event |
Add Your Event Information Here |
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