Acadia Gun Control(ME)

bangordailynews.com ^ | 9 February, 2010 | Editor

[marktwain]

A bill now before the Legislature would restore the decades-old policies regulating guns in Acadia National Park, the St. Croix International Historic Site and the state’s portion of the Appalachian Trail. Specifically, it would require gun owners to keep their weapons unloaded, broken down and stowed away in vehicle trunks, glove boxes or other such compartments. LD 1737 should be passed, and legislators should not allow it to turn into a Second Amendment showdown.

The bill would restore the gun policy in place since the Reagan administration; last year, Congress and President Barack Obama enacted a credit card reform bill that included an amendment repealing the old law that prohibited people from carrying loaded guns in national parks.

Those favoring the change argue that people should be able to carry weapons to protect themselves from dangerous wild animals, or from other people who might rob or attack hikers in remote backcountry areas. Another part of the argument favoring the change is that those with concealed weap-ons permits should not be denied access to their guns while in parks.

But the old law worked.

Since the federal law allows states to adopt their own regulations, Maine should do just that, and adopt LD 1737. Acadia National Park is not the same as Glacier or Denali national parks, where an attack by a grizzly bear or other predator is a real threat. Acadia, Maine Speaker of the House Han-nah Pingree notes, is a place where families recreate. Though it is stunningly beautiful and offers those willing to stretch their legs opportunities to get away from the roads and crowds, it would not be described as “backcountry.”

[marktwain]

Another attempt to deny constitutional rights for no good reason.

[G Larry]

“...places where carrying a gun is not appropriate, such as in schools, courts and the State House...”
Oh, ya, National Parks are just like that...../sarc

There is NO logic in this editorial and none of the arguments hold up under scrutiny.

[piytar]

So far the comments at the link are pretty decent...

[PLMerite]

No grizzlies but how many people are robbed, raped, or assaulted in the Park yearly ?

They’ve erected a strawbear...

[libertarian27]

When seconds counts ~ The park rangers are but hours away.

[Renderofveils]

But the old law worked.

Tell that to the families of Mark Miedema, Iris Kenna, Barbara Schoener, and Mark Reynolds. All four killed by mountain lions inside State or National Parks. Or perhaps the four people killed by bears inside National Parks since 2000. And perhaps someone can tell me how it worked in keeping Cary Stayner from raping two tourists and killing three inside Yosemite in 1999?

[snowtigger]

BTTT

[School of Rational Thought]

But the old law worked.

Did I miss the part where the writer explained how the new law DIDN't work?