Matt-

Speaking only for myself, it's not 'defending' but rather just stating the way it is, as I understand it. The rights are granted by the Fed and AMA doesn't have any authority to change that.

Interesting, your mention of Mr. Kim. He did not get in trouble with the law, despite getting caught red handed with a transmitter and box of crystals in the parking lot at Madera, and had a history of shooting down models at Sepulveda Basin and elsewhere. The fuzz just didn't want any part of prosecuting him for his actions. Whether it's because it was dissed as only involving toy airplanes, or because they didn't think the DA could make a case, it does illustrate the problems in taking a case against a 'rogue' flyer to court. If you can't win against somebody with malicious intent, how in the world can you expect to win a suit against somebody that shot you down because he had poor manners, or just plain screwed up? It's just not going to fly as a legal issue, so better to try for a gentlemen's agreement.
Oh......... and BTW, Mr. Kim was spotted by several persons at the AMA Convention in Pasadena a couple of months after the incident at Madera. Why did AMA let him in?

Abel