Slashdot | Rocket Hobbyists Prevail Over Feds In Court Case

[Paul D. Fernhout]

From:
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/03/16/2139211

"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."

One comment from there: "Man, what a great day. It reminds me of the quote
by Margaret Meade: "Never doubt that a small group of people can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." The more important issue
is that a Federal Judge just told a government agency that they were no
longer allowed to impede on the rights and freedoms of private citizens
"just because." So while it's a tremendous day for rocketry, it's also a
great day for the American People at large."

--Paul Fernhout