FWC shuts down crime ring selling priceless Florida artifacts

[Reck Diver]

I call BS. If the State's interest is preserving historical artifacts, then, by that logic, they should also be able to confiscate stuff in your closet. After all, it may be old, valuable and have historical significance. It should make no difference if it is a family heirloom, because it should be on display to the public.

Sometimes I think government should stick to what they do best, rousting the good people and wasting taxpayer money.

 

[Oldbear]

So what is the difference between "Treasure Hunting" and "Looting A War Grave"...the age of the sunken ship?

 

[WeldonDowd]

They may not have targeted the "casual collector" this time but the laws are now in the books so they can. It's a brave new world folks; pray for your children.

 

[letterboy]

and by pray for your children you don't mean any particular deity, but rather a generality, right .. .


BTW - the only way to save the children is to move to an island country and take it over. . .

 

[soonerwink]

Not sure how you tell if an arrowhead is 50 years old. I know a guy here in Oklahoma who makes arrowheads out of flint rock, and you can't tell the difference in those from the ones found while fossle hunting. He has sold hundreds of them.

 

[Jared0425]

So what is the difference between "Treasure Hunting" and "Looting A War Grave"...the age of the sunken ship?

Treasure hunting can be any ship that carries a valuable cargo whether she be a warship, civilian, sunk in war, peace, purposely,or storm. A war grave is a ship that lost many sailors during a conflict. Not many warships carry valuable cargo nor would be worth anything. After a period of time, any ship can be subject to salvage, but this article is about artifacts not shipwrecks. Florida has lost many shipwreck cases so they gave up on that avenue.