Homeland security vs fireworks chemicals

[Don F]

"Forwarded from another group:

December 14, 2005 - 12:40 PM EST


House Homeland Security Subcommittee Crafts Bipartisan
Legislation That
Would Keep Explosives Out of Terrorist Hands Department of
Homeland Security
to Regulate Ammonium Nitrate-based Fertilizer Under Legislation
Introduced
by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the House
Committee on
Homeland Security today voted unanimously to help block
terrorists' access
to ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which when combined with various
fuels has
been used to create improvised explosive devices that have
claimed many
victims.

This deadly combination was found in the device used by domestic
terrorists
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols in the 1995 bombing of the
Alfred P.
Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. These devices also
have been used
internationally in several terrorist incidents.

The Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack
today heard
testimony on the importance of regulating this potentially
dangerous
substance. The Subcommittee also marked up legislation
introduced by the
Committee's Ranking Member, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and
Rep. Curt
Weldon (R-PA), the Committee's Vice Chairman.

The 'Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act' gives the
Department of
Homeland Security the authority to regulate entities and
individuals that
produce, sell, or distribute ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer.
This bill
would allow the Department, working with the Department of
Agriculture, to
develop regulations to create a registry of those who handle
ammonium
nitrate- based fertilizer.

Only facilities and people registered with the Department would
be able to
legally access ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer. Anyone
purchasing ammonium
nitrate would be required to have a registration number.

Retailers would be required to keep records of ammonium nitrate
sales for at
least three years. The records must include the purchaser's
name, address,
telephone number, registration number, and other valid
State-issued
identification, the date of sale and quantity sold. Violators
are subject to
civil penalties of up to $50,000.

Rep. Thompson stressed the importance of the Department of
Homeland Security
leading the effort to protect our nation's agricultural sector.

'Historically, agriculture has been the mainstay of the
Mississippi economy,
and farmers swear by ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer,' said
Rep. Thompson.
'This substance must continue to be available for farming, and
we also must
make sure terrorists cannot easily acquire it and use it as a
lethal weapon
against the American people.'

'I applaud Chairman Linder, Committee Vice-Chairman Weldon, and
Ranking
Member Thompson, and Rep. Langevin for their leadership on this
issue,' said
Peter T. King, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland
Security.
'They clearly understand the importance of our committee's
mission, helping
safeguard America against another terrorist attack; and this
bill takes
positive steps in that direction.'

'This is a highly unusual situation, in that an industry has
voluntarily
approached Congress and asked to be regulated,' said Weldon. 'I
applaud the
fertilizer industry for their responsible approach to
safeguarding the use
of their product. Ammonium nitrate was used in the Oklahoma City
bombing in
1995, and today's bill would help prevent another tragedy like
this from
happening again.'

'The risk that ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer, so critical to
the
agricultural operation of many of our nation's farmers, will be
used by a
terrorist in an improvised explosive device must be confronted
and reduced,'
said Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI). 'While some states should
be commended
for taking the initiative, I cannot help but think that the job
of securing
ammonium nitrate should be a federal concern.'

The Fertilizer Institute believes the legislation, as introduced
by Reps.
Curt Weldon and Bennie Thompson, will effectively enhance the
security
measures the fertilizer industry has undertaken to help keep
ammonium
nitrate out of the hands of those who wish to harm our nation,'
said TFI
President Ford B. West. 'TFI thanks Chairman Linder for
scheduling this
important hearing on legislation to provide uniform, common
sense security
measures for agricultural professionals and farmers who use
ammonium
nitrate.'

SOURCE House Committee on Homeland Security - Democratic Office



Source: PR Newswire (December 14, 2005 - 12:40 PM EST)"

Now consider ammonium nitrate is a common fertilizer as well as used in the making of hobbiest rockets. If this does pass also consider that potassium nitrate and all other oxidizers will soon follow effectively destroying hobbiest pyrotechnics. such a demise will do nothing but start the count down for a complete ban on all fireworks .
If you think this is a conspiracy theory you are sadly mistaken check out Harry from skylighters comment on the firefox law suit and its possible effects on the hobby.
Dont sit on your hands guys call your reps and tell them this is a crock
Get involved or watch the dominos fall. :mad:


---

[climber]

I agree this will keep the chemical(s) out of the hands of terrorists domestically. But internationally now is going to be the next step. When I was in Liu Yang this last early October (not the festival) there were three men from the Middle East staying at the hotel all in one room. The room was two doors down from me and they were hard partying individuals. I over herd a conversation they were having in English at the lobby one morning very loudly with a supplier or manufacturer that came to pick them up concerning bulk chemicals only (not fireworks). My assumption was (maybe far fetched) that they were acquiring chemicals for export for less than favorable purposes. Or I could be letting my imagination run a little wild but to me it was suspect and has me quite concerned.

[Don F]

All It takes to realize such things have little to no effect on terrorism is to look at the devices used by terrorists.
Terrorists seldom use Anfo . Its bulky and messy besides why bother C4 and other high explosives are readily available all over the world .
Personally Im sick to death of the fear mongering propaganda .
My gosh there are terrorists around every corner. Oh my those guys are from the middle east they must be terrorists up to no good. we should ban everything terrorists could use to kill some one. Oh but we wont regulate gasoline (strange in a gasious form this is extremely explosive).
Look out theres a bird flue coming we need to be able to declare martial law if some one farts :evil:
face it if someone wants to kill people they will no ammount of legistlation will stop it .We are not one bit safer today than we were in 2000 .
Im a good upstanding citizen maybe a bit strange sometimes .
Yet with very little thought and next to no planning I know quite well its possible to murder hundreds of inoccent people in a matter of minutes usinging any number of completely un regulated materials. so do you propose we ban vehicals, eletricity, gasoline, antifreeze, bleach. Or should we all hide in our homes and bann any public places afterall crowds provide tempting targets for terrorists.
Safety is an illussion .
your odds of being killed walking to the mail box are better than being killed by a terrorist. Hell how many are killed by drunk drivers should we ban all alcohol .
How many are killed by fire , gee I guess we should ban trees and anything else thats flamiable. People die falling down stairs so we cant have ladders stairs or anybuilding over one story. People overdose on asprin better ban all medicines .
Bottom line is if its your time to die you are going to if its not you wont .
you can lock yourself in a nuclear blast proof bubble it wont matter.
:evil:
This ban it because a terrorist might use it is Bull :puke:

[lwoodpyro]

I agree, Don. A determined killer could wreck havoc with a ball point pen. Citizens who are afraid are easier to control. That is not to say we should not be vigilant against terrorism. A free & open society provides ample opportunity for anyone wishing to commit a deviant act. We catch you after the fact...rarely beforehand.

[SoonerKid]

Looks like the Senate isn't going to renew the Patriot Act as is! (right now anyway unless there is a special session or something)

[Don F]

In which case GW will make the patriot act an excutive order and by pass congress he's done such things before :evil:

[Don F]

here ya go
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1424214

now why would a terrorist bother with fireworks chemicals simple they wouldnt

[lamrith]

SWEET!! So this moron got broken into before, he knows he has some really dangerous product and he does nothing to secure it?? What what a Living brain donor he is!! OHH and WTF is he doing with something that is "250 pounds of thin sheets of explosives that could be used in letter bombs"?? What the hell use is a product like that?? IS he doing leter bomb testing so that the Authorities know what sort of damage a letter bomb will cause?? GOOD GOD!:rolleyes:

But hey lets all ban chemicals so that our schools cannot provide science course to our children. Not that our school systems are acctually working, but hey, might was well take away the books to while we are at it, those could be used to start a fire and burn a building down, or beat someone in the head with.:puke: