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From: Gor#f@mit-eddie.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Automobile Ham call sign plates
Message-ID: <8432@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 21-Feb-85 18:22:48 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.8432
Posted: Thu Feb 21 18:22:48 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 26-Feb-85 20:30:34 EST
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 34

To New Hampshire Hams:

    Ham call plates ARE vanity plates.  They serve no purpose but to
boost the ego of their owner.  There is nothing wrong with that.  I
have call plates.  They are one of my toys.  I pay for my toys, but
I don't want to pay for other peoples toys.  Don't ask the taxpayers
to subsidize your toys.

    If the reasons that you choose to live in New Hampshire include
the fact that our government costs are so low that we have a budget
surplus with no state income tax and no state sales tax, then you
cannot, in good conscience, support the moves to make ham call plates
"special"(==cheap==subsidized).  If you want special interest groups
to dictate your tax rate, you aren't likely to be happy in this state
anyway.

    If National Guard plates serve no useful purpose either, then you
thrust should be to have their special status eliminated, not to put
your own hand in the til.  If they do serve a purpose (I don't know
that), then whether they should be given a reduced rate or should
be reimbursed directly by the Guard is a separate debate.

    If ARRL really is supporting this foolishness, then shame on
them!

    I urge you to write the governor and your state representatives
and register your opposition, as a ham, to casting ham radio in the
roll of another special interest group with its hand out.  All that
we should ask of out governments is the continued use of our fre-
quencies.  That is plenty to be grateful for already.

                                                Sincerely,

                                                Bill Freeman, KE1G