National ‘Take a gun hiking’ Day

Austin Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 22 February, 2010 | Howard Nemerov

[marktwain]

Beginning today, law-abiding gun owners can possess guns in national park and forest lands. But the anti-rights movement is pulling out their propaganda guns in an attempt to confuse and disparage gun owners. Last May, Senator Coburn attached an amendment to the credit card reform bill making its way through Congress. Despite some voting rules attempting to remove the amendment, it survived even President Obama’s veto power. (For the story behind the story, see my special report.) Now, state laws on gun possession and concealed carry are in force when you enter national parklands. For example, if you have a valid Texas Concealed Handgun License, or an out-of-state license recognized by Texas, you may carry your concealed handgun when visiting Big Bend National Park. As usual, anti-rights proponents bleated their gloom-and-doom prognostications: “People go to national parks to get away from things that they face in their everyday living, where they live and work. Now I think that social dynamic is really going to change.” – Bill Wade, president of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees

"When you are at a campfire and people are getting loud and boisterous next to you, you used to have to worry about them quieting down. Now you have to worry about when they will start shooting." – Paul Helmke, President of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Helmke must be ignoring years of FBI crime data: Violent crime and murder rates are lower in right-to-carry states: Those with liberalized laws regarding law-abiding citizens’ ability to carry concealed handguns in public. Worse for Brady, the Centers for Disease control reports that in Brady’s favorite states, where concealed carry is banned or severely restricted, the average firearms homicide rate in 2006 (latest data available) was 24.6% higher than in right-to-carry states.

[marktwain]

I am thinking of an open carry barbeque at the Grand Canyon picnic area. I think this would be a good place to exercise our rights.

[Red in Blue PA]

For me, every day is ‘Take a gun hiking’ Day

[edpc]

"When you are at a campfire and people are getting loud and boisterous next to you, you used to have to worry about them quieting down. Now you have to worry about when they will start shooting." – Paul Helmke, President of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

What a jackass. He's forgetting the trigger happy groups (like there would be such a thing) will also have to consider their targets would shoot back.

[West Texas Chuck]

Hellya. I take a S&W M19 with me mountain biking when the weather is warm here in Dallas, first two loaded with ratshot in case I step on a copperhead. Freaks some of the locals out, but what are ya gonna do if you step on a snake while you are stopped by the trail jawing? Them folks in the ER are gonna want to know what kind of snake bit ya ...

[elkfersupper]

Been carrying almost constantly for most of the past 40 years.

What the tree cops don't know can't hurt them and might save them.

[lrb111]

There are over a hundred state parks in Texas with camping and guns allowed. I’ve never heard of any mass shootings by persons legally armed. Of course, I’ve only used the parks about 50 years. Don’t have infinite experience.