4 ms·

It's unfortunate that when he requested more information on the legality of his situation, instead of reaching out to him and informing him he wasn't supposed t

It's unfortunate that when he requested more information on the legality of his situation, instead of reaching out to him and informing him he wasn't supposed to have this material and working with him to dispose of it, they sent the police. It seems like an overreaction, especially considering HE reached out to THEM.

Andrew_Quentin 15y ago
That is why you contact a lawyer who usually are under implied confidentiality clauses.
- zacharycohn 15y ago
  I suppose. But it makes a lot of sense to contact the organization who's job it is is to manage the stuff, rather than tracking down a lawyer who specializes in radioactive materials law.
  - tansey 15y ago
    It makes a lot more sense to contact the organization before you start conducting potentially-dangerous experiments.
    - lutorm 15y ago
      hindsight is always 20/20.
mkramlich 15y ago
Tell that to the people living in adjacent apartments. Tell that to the kids who unknowingly live in the apartment afterwards. He's a dangerous fool.
- hammerdr 15y ago
  Not the children! Seriously, the dude is pretty clearly ill informed about what he was doing. In the end, though, he asked for help from the right place. He didn't do irreparable harm (or any harm period) to anyone. There was no significant amount of radiation found in the apartment. Most people on HN are going to see right through politician scare tactics. In this case, it seems completely reasonable for this guy to get a slap on the wrist and probation from use of radioactive materials (that is, if caught with radioactive materials again, he is in for some serious jail time). Edit: It is also important to send the right message: dealing with dangerous chemicals and substances is dangerous and should be handled in a controlled environment. However, you should always feel comfortable asking your regulatory agencies what should and should not be done. And intellectual curiosity isn't going to get you thrown in jail.
  - davidw 15y ago
    > However, you should always feel comfortable asking your regulatory agencies what should and should not be done Presumably the key point is to ask before you do them.
    - hammerdr 15y ago
      Of course, but it should never be too late to do the right thing. It's better for everyone if people feel safe to contact the people in the know at any point than for them to think that it is too late and that if they just ignore the problem it will go away.
      - davidw 15y ago
        Speaking rather generically, at a certain point, a crime has been committed and a line has been crossed. Naturally, during sentencing it should be taken into account that someone started acting responsibly and owned up to what they had done, but that doesn't mean they haven't done anything wrong.
    - mkramlich 15y ago
      THIS. Thus, a dangerous selfish fool.

Andrew_Quentin 15y ago

That is why you contact a lawyer who usually are under implied confidentiality clauses.

zacharycohn 15y ago
I suppose. But it makes a lot of sense to contact the organization who's job it is is to manage the stuff, rather than tracking down a lawyer who specializes in radioactive materials law.
- tansey 15y ago
  It makes a lot more sense to contact the organization before you start conducting potentially-dangerous experiments.
  - lutorm 15y ago
    hindsight is always 20/20.

mkramlich 15y ago

Tell that to the people living in adjacent apartments. Tell that to the kids who unknowingly live in the apartment afterwards. He's a dangerous fool.

hammerdr 15y ago
Not the children! Seriously, the dude is pretty clearly ill informed about what he was doing. In the end, though, he asked for help from the right place. He didn't do irreparable harm (or any harm period) to anyone. There was no significant amount of radiation found in the apartment. Most people on HN are going to see right through politician scare tactics. In this case, it seems completely reasonable for this guy to get a slap on the wrist and probation from use of radioactive materials (that is, if caught with radioactive materials again, he is in for some serious jail time). Edit: It is also important to send the right message: dealing with dangerous chemicals and substances is dangerous and should be handled in a controlled environment. However, you should always feel comfortable asking your regulatory agencies what should and should not be done. And intellectual curiosity isn't going to get you thrown in jail.
- davidw 15y ago
  > However, you should always feel comfortable asking your regulatory agencies what should and should not be done Presumably the key point is to ask before you do them.
  - hammerdr 15y ago
    Of course, but it should never be too late to do the right thing. It's better for everyone if people feel safe to contact the people in the know at any point than for them to think that it is too late and that if they just ignore the problem it will go away.
    - davidw 15y ago
      Speaking rather generically, at a certain point, a crime has been committed and a line has been crossed. Naturally, during sentencing it should be taken into account that someone started acting responsibly and owned up to what they had done, but that doesn't mean they haven't done anything wrong.
  - mkramlich 15y ago
    THIS. Thus, a dangerous selfish fool.