This is a great Moral/Philosophical/Ethical/Legal discussion. We need to keep it civil respecting each other. Let me begin with these two quotes:
For when Gentiles who do not have the law by nature do what the law requires they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law?
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
When one becomes an amateur radio operator they by default agree to abide by the laws governing that earned/granted license. Same way with driving or even in my mind being a US citizen.
The MARS modification in and of itself is not illegal. Some might argue that the radio has been modified beyond it’s intended purpose and some radios have been modded in that way and are not type FCC approved for those frequencies. I agree that if you get caught by the law or more specifically the agents that have been tasked with enforcing that law you stand convicted/guilty of violating said law.
Yes my IC-7300 has the MARS modification. As soon as I transmit on any frequencies outside the amateur spectrum I have broken the law. Regardless of being caught I have broken the law but no agent of enforcement has been on hand to enforce the penalty. We all know the justifications for doing so…1). Enhanced value of said equipment because I don’t have to purchase other approved equipment to operate on those frequencies. 2). It’s a cleaner signal. 3). It’s a stupid law therefore I won’t comply. 4). Who’s going know. 5). I need that capability in the event of the collapse of society. 6). If they didn’t want us to operate there then why build it into the radio? ad in·fi·ni·tum
What if the FCC suddenly decides these radios can be operated on GRMS/FRMS/MURS. Our discussion become moot.
What’s really interesting about this discussion is those of us who believe it’s a violation of the law are contributing to undermining those laws by… 1). Not reporting it i.e. refusing to be an Agent of enforcement. 2). Doing it ourselves and then justifying it in our own minds. 3). Providing information on how to violate those laws….kinda funny/sad. “You can’t operate that radio on the GRMS/FRS/MURS frequencies but here’s the information you need to do it. 4). Well it’s worst than operating an amplifier on 11 meters because….
No one is perfect and each of us has a distorted/warp/unique perception of what’s right or wrong.
It’s has ALWAYS been this way since the beginning of mankind. One neighbor won’t turn another neighbor in for dealing drugs because if they get put away whose going to take care of the kids or aging parents…but another neighbor says it doesn’t matter they broke the law and I’m calling the appropriate authority.
One person says “bump fire stocks” are legal and another says they’re illegal. In my mind just an opinion mind you while bump fire stocks are fun a person is trying to get as close to machine gun fire as possible legally without the expenditure for procuring the necessary forms/license to own a machine gun.
One lawmaker passionately pushes campaign financing laws while at the same time breaking the very law they’re pushing.
One person has no problem engaging in a relationship with a married person because the marriage has fallen apart, there’s abuse, there’s loneliness, it’s a loveless relationship so what’s the harm?
Examples abound all around us of these incursions of the law and we each make our own case.
Even the law is frustrating. At one point the FCC says FM is not permitted. Then suddenly it is permitted. The law is always trying to refine itself as mankind always finds exceptions to the rule. Then we find ourselves being burdened by the law rather than operating within the quote “Spirit of the Law.”
At one time 70 mph was pretty much a given on interstates, then the law changed to 55 mph and now it’s a mixture.
The same is true for COVID…just read an article stating Lock downs during the first COVID-19 wave in the spring of 2020 only reduced COVID-19 mortality by .2% in the U.S. and Europe, according to a Johns Hopkins University meta-analysis of several studies.
Generally speaking the Law is only temporarily absolute until it changes. Which then opens the discussion are there absolutes in the Law that are eternal rather than this transient ground were standing on?
So I find human nature fascinating and disgusting knowing that only ONE is righteous and perfect. Looking for the day when even myself shall be held accountable…and if that is a falsehood/illusion/pipe dream then I can only be true to myself and hope I’m not deceived into thinking I’m better than someone else.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.
Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburgh
