They should have the right

[riggersam 1]

The article itself is a bit off topic... It's about the pursuit of the X Prize. But, some of the comments made by the CEO of the X Prize Foundation struck me as being similar to those made by jumpers regarding access issues in NPS lands. I think its interesting you can get federal approval to launch a 3-person home-made rocket, but you're not allowed to jump off a cliff.

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/xprize_ap_030927.html

Asked about the risk involved, Diamandis didn't pull punches in his talk to FAA officials.

``People may die,'' he said. ``This is dangerous stuff.''

But Diamandis argues that taking such risks is a basic human right that the government should honor.

``They should have the right to risk their own lives for something they believe in,'' he told government executives whose jobs include aviation safety. America was settled by pioneers who chose to risk all for new land or to explore the unknown, he said, and without such a spirit humans will always be Earthbound.