Another Regressive organization

[theshadow]

I know this won't matter to many of you. But HAM Radio operators take notice, ARRL is an Anti-freedom organization. For those not familiar RACES/ ARES operators are volunteers to provide their own response kits. Some of the radios are pretty pricy, some of the kits run into thousands of dollars. The operators respond to places like Emergency shelters, hospitals and Command posts of all kinds. They often have food water and shelter in their vehicles in case of prolonged deployment. Basically they're a rolling supply post. We have a shortage of volunteers, and now ARRL is telling people 'Feel free to not respond, we will not talk about rights'. So please if you're an ARRL member, let them know why you are dropping your membership. Here's the full story: https://www.hirammaxim.net/forums/co...ares-club.html

[God's Country]

I did some reading, but I'm still confused. Where do these radios relay from?
Are they mobile, owned and operated by the individual volunteer?

[Grey Bearded One]

I did some reading, but I'm still confused. Where do these radios relay from?
Are they mobile, owned and operated by the individual volunteer?

I used to work with a guy who was heavily involve with RACES/ARES. As I understand it, in a time of disaster, these guys set up radio communications links. For example, after a hurricane, radio towers could be down and the phone system would be out so the HAM guys would relay messages from an aid station, for example, to the HQ at the county seat. They buy all their gear which can be pricey.

As for anti-gun, meh. By that standard, the Boy Scouts are anti-gun as they don't even want cops to carry guns when functioning as a Scouter unless they are required by department policy or law to be armed.

[MT1]

I did some reading, but I'm still confused. Where do these radios relay from?
Are they mobile, owned and operated by the individual volunteer?

I was confused also. The OP isn't clear on the issue. I can make out enough to understand one side of the argument. The link didn't shed any light because it just takes me to an already ongoing discussion.

OP - It may help to post the original announcement from ARRL.

[theshadow]

I did some reading, but I'm still confused. Where do these radios relay from?
Are they mobile, owned and operated by the individual volunteer?

Where they relay from, well, I hate giving a non-straight forward answer, but it depends. In day to day operations it could be my living room or office to someone else (kinda like an over powered CB). Some of our radios can talk to the other side of the world with no assistance. Depending on the band being used, we'll often use what is called a repeater. The repeaters are owned and operated by private radio clubs, like the one in Lebanon LVSRA.org. Repeaters allow radios to reach out further than they normally would. A demonstration I made, I was in the parking lot of Cabellas, with a 5 watt walkie talkie style radio talking to a guy in York. Some times, we'll 'relay' traffic from one region to another (this is in practice for wide scale national emergency). Traffic will be passed from California, to a New York making multiple links along the way.

Where the Radios come from again depends. In Central PA, DHS provided a grant to the Local South Central Counter Terrorism Task Force (Amateur Radio Working Group) to buy Radios for use in each Emergency Operations Center. The local 2Meter repeaters (which in times of emergencies, there are designated repeaters in each county to be the RACES Repeater IAW a Communications plan) remains owned by the radio club, but becomes a 'closed net' where it becomes very formal in passing traffic. The ones in the Hospitals are either owned by the Hospital or purchased for use in the hospital. The RACES/ ARES guys going t Red Cross shelters provide their own. Search and Rescue teams that use HAM radios also require the licensed operators to provide their own radio. Most the radios in EOCs and hospitals can be portable, but are larger and we try not to move them. Many RACES/ ARES operators have modified the power inputs from vehicle mounted mobiles to be able to run off other 12V batteries and or have a portable power supply since we don't know where we'll be operating out of. So a majority of the radios used are actually owned operated and maintained by the individual volunteers.

[theshadow]

I used to work with a guy who was heavily involve with RACES/ARES. As I understand it, in a time of disaster, these guys set up radio communications links. For example, after a hurricane, radio towers could be down and the phone system would be out so the HAM guys would relay messages from an aid station, for example, to the HQ at the county seat. They buy all their gear which can be pricey.

As for anti-gun, meh. By that standard, the Boy Scouts are anti-gun as they don't even want cops to carry guns when functioning as a Scouter unless they are required by department policy or law to be armed.

You are correct sir. But the big difference, we're going INTO emergency situations, with big dollar items, food, water and shelters in our emergency kits (usually in our private vehicles) we have no escort, and could be very easily viewed as a mobile supply post. Prime targets for looters, so telling us we are NOT allowed to have defensive measures, while not having enough volunteers is a sure way to make sure no one responds. Their best bet would have been to stay out of it and taken the stance, of what ever the local law is.

[theshadow]

I was confused also. The OP isn't clear on the issue. I can make out enough to understand one side of the argument. The link didn't shed any light because it just takes me to an already ongoing discussion.

OP - It may help to post the original announcement from ARRL.

Well I hate doing that, but since it was requested this is the part I was referring to:

Apparent Anti-Gun Stance by ARES and the ARRL


The letter contained in this articled was presented to me from an unknown source other than it was found on the internet.

As a Licensed Concealed Weapon holder I find this frankly discusting. As with several companies and and non-profits ifiltrated by liberals and lawyers they throw aside ones Constitutional Rights for the betterment of all. The communal betterment overrides the the Constitution of the State of ones residence and the United States Constitution. In the letter below this "lawyer" throws aside our Constitution and its Rights as if HE can!

If the State in which the person resides has performed all required background checks on the individual, and the individual is not within a building that restricts posession of a concealed weapon then there is no no law being broken. The ARRL and the subset volunteer organization ARES has taken it unpon themselves to to play policeman and require its members to submit their ignorant laws.

I can assure you that I will be discontinueing my membership in the ARRL and any Club that is affiliated with them. My Second Amendment Rights are much more important to me that a bunch of self appointed idiots that think they know best for my Rights.

Article ImageThe name of the person being discussed has been removed for privacy.

[beginning of letter/email]

From Chris Imlay, ARRL General Counsel:

Greetings, {name removed}. Let me be very, very clear about this. We are not going to talk about choice here, or "rights" or anything else on this issue. There is no place within ARES for weapons of any type. No one in connection with ARES is to carry a weapon on their person at any time they are participating in any ARES activity whatsoever. We are not going to discuss this or negotiate this with anyone at any time. If this is a problem for anyone, then as {name removed} says they are welcome to withdraw from the ARES program. We do not want anyone participating in ARES while possessing a weapon outside their home or vehicle and if we hear about it the person will be thanked for their services and terminated. This is an ARRL program and weapons are no part of it whatsoever. We can't have any liability on this issue. Please tell your field appointees this.

73, Chris W3KD

This policy has the support of all the top management within ARRL, Central Division leaders, Wisconsin Section Manager, and Wisconsin ARES senior leadership. In addition, there has been consultation with Wisconsin Emergency Management.

Wisconsin ARES will adhere to this ARRL policy and we will discuss, at the April 28 Leadership conference, the impact it has on Wisconsin ARES and the adjustments that need to be made within Wisconsin ARES to continue as one of the best ARES organizations in the country.

I look forward to your responses....

[end of letter/email]

[phillyd2]

The letter contained in this articled was presented to me from an unknown source other than it was found on the internet.

Well, this changes everything! F' them to hell.

Of course if it was me and somebody from the ARES or ARRL (whoever the hell they are) told me I was not allowed to park in a certain place I would just laugh.

[theshadow]

Well, this changes everything! F' them to hell.

Of course if it was me and somebody from the ARES or ARRL (whoever the hell they are) told me I was not allowed to park in a certain place I would just laugh.

While you may jest, yes what started it was an unattributed Internet email, but was substantiated subsequently.

And now some good news, while I was writing this reply, I got an email from one of the people angry enough about this to take it to the top, we have a rely from ARRL:

"To clarify the issue on the ARRL’s position on weapons, safety, and individual responsibility for ARES activations and ARRL activities the following is official guidance from ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. It is dated March 31, 2014 and supersedes any prior communication on the subject.

"Anyone seeking permission to carry weapons during an ARES deployment is to be advised that the ARRL cannot give such permission. Neither does the ARRL prohibit legal weapons, but the ARRL accepts no responsibility or liability for injury or damages to anyone as the result of possession of a weapon by an ARES volunteer. The responsibility or liability for injury or damages to anyone as a result of an individual’s possession of a weapon remains with the individual. ARES volunteers must obey all federal, state, and local laws while on deployment. When supporting a served agency, ARES volunteers must also adhere to the policies of the served agency.

The ARRL does not expect volunteers to participate in a dangerous activity or to place themselves in what they perceive to be a dangerous or unsafe environment. Volunteers should avoid or cease participating in any ARRL activity or deployment under circumstances which make them uncomfortable."

Mike Corey, KI1U
Emergency Preparedness Manager"

So they have walked it back and taken the neutral course of we can't give permission but we won't tell you not to, as long as you follow the law. To me that's a win.

[God's Country]

I guess I don't understand the issue. If its your equipment on your property or vehicle or you are set up in an area where carry is otherwise legal, what is the liability? You're not paid, your just helping out essentially. Sounds to me like an org that is taking itself way to seriously. Not the volunteers, but the leadership structure.