I Get to go Testify Before the State Senate!!!

indianasmith · March 22, 2009, 02:11:58 PM

As most old timers on this board know, I am an avid collector of Indian artifacts - a hobby that has become more and more difficult to legally practice in recent years, especially here in Texas. For decades, "arrowhead hunters" like me could walk the shores of Texas' many reservoirs and pick up artifacts to their heart's content. The sites were being washed away and the relics exposed anyway, and no one really seemed to care if amateurs retrieved them. But a recent amendment to the Texas State Antiquities Code has basically decreed that the state owns every arrowhead and flint chip in every creek, river, or lake in Texas. It's bad law - unenforceable and illogical at best, downright harsh and draconian at worst. These artifacts are washed out of context and lying wherever the waves deposit them - there is little information to be gained from their study, and NO ONE is making any effort to recover or study them anyway, except amateur collectors.
So I wrote a proposal to legalize artifact collecting under a permit system, like a fishing or hunting license. That proposal is now Texas Senate Bill 1829, and it is being reviewed by the Natural Resources Committee. I get to go down to Austin a week from Thursday and testify to the Committee as to why this is a good idea.

Wish me luck!

And if you are a Texican on this board, do me a favor and write your State Senator suporting this piece of legislation!

Indy

akiratubo · March 22, 2009, 02:15:28 PM

As the grandson of an avid arrowhead collector/maker, that silly law outrages me. I hope you can get collecting legalized.

If not, maybe you can acquire one of those blasters from "Mars Attacks" and blow up your state Senate like they did Congress.

Jack · March 22, 2009, 02:19:58 PM

Good luck Indy! Perhaps reason and sanity will prevail - like they say, there's a first time for everything

Doggett · March 22, 2009, 02:27:37 PM

Indians come from India.

It's Native American.
I'm not being, PC but it's common sense.

Jack · March 22, 2009, 02:30:13 PM

But everyone born in America is a native American.

lester1/2jr · March 22, 2009, 02:36:40 PM

so they would rather they be washed out to sea then have them be picked up. ridiculous

meQal · March 22, 2009, 05:20:31 PM

I wish you the best of luck. I know from experience that dealing with state politicians can be a major pain. They are egotistical and seem annoyed most of the time when people want something unless they fear it will hurt them in an election by taking inaction. At least that is how they are here in Alabama.
Prior to going before them, you may want to find out some information on the members of the Natural Resources Committee such as interest and ways you can make your subject relate more to them than just something that would come before the committee. Also be extremely nice, always talk to them in a manner that makes them feel you find them highly intelligent even if it's obvious they are stupid, answer they questions in a factual, polite manner. Basically be ready to kiss a little butt and massage a few egos. Above all, don't use any words that would refer to the law you mentioned as stupid, unenforceable, or any term that could be considered negative. Odds are it was one of these very people who drafted the bill to begin with. And finally, above all else, don't let them see you panic. They will pounce on you like sharks on an injured fish.

Doggett · March 22, 2009, 05:28:07 PM

Quote from: Jack on March 22, 2009, 02:30:13 PM
But everyone born in America is a native American.

indianasmith · March 22, 2009, 07:16:41 PM

Thanks for the support and comments, guys!

Rev. Powell · March 22, 2009, 08:11:53 PM

Remember, Indy, the 5th Amendment is your best friend when testifying before the legislature...

Seriously, that's extremely cool, and sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, I'm a former citizen of Texas, so I can't help directly, but I wish you the best! Fight the good fight!

The Burgomaster · March 23, 2009, 09:32:24 AM

Quote from: doggett on March 22, 2009, 02:27:37 PM
Indians come from India.

It's Native American.
I'm not being, PC but it's common sense.

Nothing like seeing kids running around outside playing "Cowboys and Native Americans." When I was a kid, we also played "Cops and Robbers." Now, kids play "Police Officers and Disadvantaged Inner City Youth."

Derf · March 23, 2009, 12:31:31 PM

I'm glad you posted this, Indy. My brother is an avid collector, so I let him know about this new code change. He doesn't collect arrowheads from lakeshores or seashores, though; he goes out after area farmers have plowed their fields and finds a lot of artifacts--there were several major trading routes in this area, and several major camping sites that are now farmland. You said the new code prohibits collection around waterways; does it do the same on private land?

ER · March 23, 2009, 03:28:19 PM

Makes us proud, indy!

(And tell 6th street I said hello! lol)

ghouck · March 23, 2009, 04:59:12 PM

Ahh, , ,6th St., Austin. Haven't been there in about 20 years. Lotsa fun bars around there.

indianasmith · March 23, 2009, 05:02:48 PM

Quote from: Derf on March 23, 2009, 12:31:31 PM
I'm glad you posted this, Indy. My brother is an avid collector, so I let him know about this new code change. He doesn't collect arrowheads from lakeshores or seashores, though; he goes out after area farmers have plowed their fields and finds a lot of artifacts--there were several major trading routes in this area, and several major camping sites that are now farmland. You said the new code prohibits collection around waterways; does it do the same on private land?

The state cannot mandate restrictions on private land - at least, not here in Texas (it's a different story out on the Left Coast, but around here we take private property rights very seriously).

There is very little plowing in my area anymore, but our reservoirs and rivers are full of artifacts and fossils. No one ever cared if you picked them up, until recently!