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No selling at show

Al & List,

Selling meteorites at a astronomy convention is exactly the place they
should be sold.  This allows the astronomy community, the very people that
have a lot of interest in them, the opportunity to buy them.
They are not a banned item of any sorts and it is completely legal to buy
and sell them.  I would like to know what their real reasons are for not
allowing these sales. Their reasons given just don't stand up.

I have been welcomed at astronomy meetings and events to show and sell
meteorites and they invite me back
because of the great amount interest and enjoyment they provide.  Some
people buy them so they can donate them.

Meteorites and gemstones are valuable because there is a market for them.
Both are part of natural history.
Gemstones are not banned at gem shows even though there are concerns about
their origins and how they got to market and who was exploited in getting
them there. Gem dealers are constantly  the targets of thieves, many have
given their lives while being robbed. The people in charge of this event
should
be more concerned about elephants being killed for ivory rather than
meteorites
being fashioned into jewelry and other items.


Harry Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Museum of Natural History. It
would have gotten there no other way, and the American public is very
grateful of this. I don't think he was ever accused of keeping museums from
acquiring gemstones by being a stone dealer and making a profit from his
work.

As a whole, meteorite dealers are a good bunch. Many work together bringing
material to the people and places that most want it, and many donate part of
what they have for study.  Many places would not get meteorite material any
other way. I know this for a fact.

The people in charge of this event that sent you the letter are just hurting
the astronomy community, the very people that meteorites should be shown and
sold to. Why do they want to keep the people attending their event from
seeing
meteorites? It makes no sense to me.

John Sinclair


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