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Re: Believe it or not!

Under the current system of things, the lobby groups are the only ones with 
the resources to buy the power to avert the hysterical gaze of the 
"Government Knows Best" Brigade. If it comes to protecting the public from 
itself, there are no ends to which the government will not resort, regardless
of Constitutional parameters. Unless of course there's money to be made.
The outcry from the public has to be deafening to override that one, and even 
then it takes years, just look at Tobacco.

But this is not just a rant, the attitude that anyone wishing to protect
their freedom must take is: "I hear your statement, but what is your agenda?"
Does this impact tesla coiling? You bet! This, like virtually every
interesting hobby, has some measure of hazard, particularly to the
uninitiated. We can only 
hope that no-one will devise a way to use TC's to intentionally disrupt any
government activities. Until then, we will probably be able to keep below their
radar.



> Original Poster: Parpp807-at-aol-dot-com
> 
> << I do share your concerns with amateurs trying this, but these guys are
>  not amateurs. The risk is more likely from some kid watching the show
>  then trying to duplicate the stunt. A few fried kids nationwide, and the
>  Safety Nazi's will move in to "help" regulate the hobby...<<<<<<
> 
>  -- Bert -- >>
> >>He is not a public accident yet...  I would hardly call him irresponsible.
> We should all try to be as responsible and careful as we can be.  However,
> there are always those that will not follow as safe practice as we may
> like.  There is little we or the politicians can do about that...  It is
> rather sad that the three people who have been killed in Tesla coil related
> accidents, passed with hardly a note in the public eye.<<
> 
> All,
> 
> I posted on this subject back when the child became entangled in the coil
> wiring. As a certifiable gun nut I have picked up on the notion that a strong
> spirit of libertarianism (that's a small L) must also run with those of us
> who like to play with HV electricity, utility pole transformers and
> high-energy capacitors.
> 
> I have been active in the Second Amendment fight against the Safety Nazi's
> and the
> forces of the nanny state for over twenty years. From a few of the postings
> on this subject, I get the feeling that too many coilers do not realize the
> danger we are in.
> And the danger need not lie in our own doings. The holy moley throwing
> ligtning bolts to his god could be shutdown with one "expose" on 20/20. The
> spill-over could
> easily take our toys away.Snake worshipers are now regularly shutdown by the
> state police. The survivors of an accident victim can very well bring suit
> against the person who sold "the lethal equipment" to the "innocent and
> unsuspecting victim" who is now very dead. Arguments about freedom of choice,
> responsibility, statistical safety records, and efforts towards reasonable
> compromise are worthless against these people. They have their own agenda.
> Laws can be passed banning the transfer of such products as NST's, OBITS and
> even magnet wire in quantities large enuff for coil winding. The Tesla hobby
> is gone if city or county law requires that all electrical equipment more
> dangerous than vinyl tape be sold only to licensed electricians producing a
> county or city-issued building or repair permit. Has anyone tried lately to
> buy supplies for their home chemistry lab?
> 
> The point about copy-cat kids trying to duplicate Tesla experiments is very
> well
> made. Experienced coilers should be very firm and directly responsive to all
> postings by obviously unsophisticated teenagers and even older newbies who
> seem headed for trouble.
> 
> Without a Tesla Coil Amendment and a National Tesla Association, one stupid
> accident is all it would take. In this climate of nanny state empire building
> and the safety gestapo, self-policing may be our only recourse; paranoia is
> not all that bad.