Posted on 11/23/2006 7:52:50 PM PST by RWR8189
As a last little gift to America, Senator George Allen, who was narrowly defeated by James Webb this month, has introduced what may be his final piece of legislation: a bill that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons in national parks. The argument behind the bill is that national park regulations unfairly strip many Americans of a right they may enjoy outside the parks. The bill has passed to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where we hope it will die the miserable death it deserves.
America’s confusion about the Second Amendment is now nearly total. An amendment that ensures a collective right to bear arms has been misread in one legislature after another — often in the face of strong public disapproval — as a law guaranteeing an individual’s right to carry a weapon in public. And, in a perversion of monumental proportions, the battle to extend that right has largely succeeded in co-opting the language of the Civil Rights movement, so that depriving an American of the right to carry a gun in public sounds, to some, as offensive as stripping him of the right to vote. Senator Allen’s bill is, of course, being cheered by the gun lobby, which sees it not as an assault on public safety but as a way of nationalizing the armed paranoia that the National Rifle Association and its cohorts stand for.
If Americans want to feel safer in their national parks, the proper solution is to increase park funding, which has decayed steadily since the Bush administration took office. To zealots who believe that the Second Amendment trumps all others, the parks are merely another badland, like schools and church parking lots, that could be cleaned up if the carrying of private weapons were allowed. The concealed-weapon advocates
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Not a big fan of the Constitution, New York Times?
I think the NYT's is "confused" about the 2nd amendment.
A perfect example of said confusion. Pinch has always been an idiot and will always be an idiot.
A perfect example of said confusion. Pinch has always been an idiot and will always be an idiot.
In fact, let's just do away with that ignorant judiciary branch and let the New York Times' editors interpret the law.
Everytime I hear Allen's name I can't help but think of wasted talent.
He is such a great man and leader, yet he ran one of the worst campaigns in the modern political era.
Sure, he ran against the Washington Post as well as Webb. But he responded to both very poorly and did not smack them down as he should have.
End result...kooks taking over VA. Liberalism has crossed the Mason Dixon line and that is not good.
Typical and hilarious if not so dangerous. According to this moron, government funding will leap to the rescue in the event of a "wilding" event in a park.
I'd rather rely on a tight pattern myself.
Sounds like Allen is running for the Senate seat Warner has now when Warner retires in two years. I wish him luck, but I have serious doubts about his ability to run a senate campaign after this last one against Webb.
"The argument behind the bill is that national park regulations unfairly strip many Americans of a right they may enjoy outside the parks."
The times turns this into just another cocktail party discussion of some little "right".
When I enter the wilderness for a week long adventure, I don't care about rights, I just want my gun and the rest of my gear that I need to survive with.
Liberalism crossed the Mason Dixon Line long before George Allen was in the Senate.........
If Mark Warner jumps in that race too, I don't think Allen would have a chance.
"co-opting the language of the Civil Rights movement"
The libs love the monopoly they claim to hold on this one.
That's what I was thinking too.
You should have heard a segment this afternoon of FOX a round-table with Julie Banderas and a couple of lawyers and some Canadian Activist-type... the subject of guns came up because some Sheriff told his citizens they needed guns to defend their homes because he couldn't guarantee police could get to them in a timely manner... the panel was shocked and at one point actually said the second ammendment was outdated in this day and age and went on for a full five minutes or more on how dangerous guns are in a home.
Give me a break. I'm tired of hearing this "he ran an awful campaign" BS. The guy was an awful candidate, PERIOD. Just because he sounds the right notes some of the time doesn't make him any less of the boob that he is.
Just be thankful this came to light before he somehow managed to waltz his way into the '08 nomination.
I'm so thankful the TV was n football this afternoon..........I can't afford to buy a new TV.
Pardon my cynicism, but I think they are trying to confuse the masses.
Tell the big lie long enough and people will eventually believe it.
Thanks for letting the folks in Virginia know they don't know how to elect people...........and thanks for letting us know that from FLORIDA.
Oh course, "Bush's Fault.
We just had 3 days of really nasty weather here in Virginia, can I blame that on Bush also?
I guess the NY Slime would also be in favor of adding more Border Patrol to help keep us safe?
Didn't think so.
As an aside I wonder how many tens of thousands of Park Police would be needed to insure personal safety throughout the tens of MILLIONS of acres in all our National Parks??
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