Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Parks are for peace, not concealed guns
The News & Advance/Opinions Page (Lynchburg, VA) ^ | 11/28/06 | n/a

Posted on 11/30/2006 9:58:07 AM PST by kiriath_jearim

Let’s see how many reasons there are to carry a concealed weapon into a national park.

Perhaps you might encounter a rattlesnake or some other potentially deadly critter that would pose a threat. Perhaps you were with an argumentative acquaintance who had pushed you to the limit in a discussion over, well, gun control. Perhaps a little paranoia had set in since you climbed out of bed that morning and you thought you needed a concealed weapon to ward off any attackers - real or imagined.

Surely there are others, but none of them are particularly legitimate. Yet, outgoing U.S. Sen. George Allen wants to put a cap on his one-term career in the Senate with legislation that would let visitors carry a concealed weapon into a national park.

Such weapons are now banned and they ought to remain banned.

Peter Hardin of Media General News Service detailed Allen’s last legislative hurrah in a story last week. He noted that the Virginia Republican wrote in a letter to the Virginia Gun Owners Association three days before the election that since the secretary of the Interior has refused to repeal the gun ban in national parks, he would introduce legislation to that effect in the lame-duck session of Congress.

With Democrats about to take over Congress, it is not likely that the controversial measure will gain approval in this session. If not passed, the bill would not carry over to the next Congress.

But that may not be necessary since Senator-elect Jim Webb, the Democrat who defeated Allen, has promised to submit a similar bill and will work for its passage. His proposal is no better than Allen’s.

While carrying or possessing loaded firearms in park areas is generally prohibited, some parks authorize hunting and do permit firearms during open hunting season.

Which is fine. But why the need to carry concealed weapons into a national park?

A National Park Service spokesman told Hardin that serious crimes against individuals in the parks are extremely rare and there is no data demonstrating a need for visitors to carry concealed weapons.

Spokesman David Barna said that allowing people “with minimal or no training to carry firearms in national park areas will not lower the already negligible crime rate.” He added that it could “increase the possibility of basic altercations turning into something much more serious.”

While the Gun Owners Coalition naturally supports the measure, many others do not, including Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He said he hoped the bill would die in the Senate, adding, “I don’t think there’s ... any reason why we need this.”

He’s right. National parks are refuges for nature and open vistas and trails and creeks and streams. They are places where people can escape from the weary rush of life into a peaceful realm that’s quiet. They don’t need to have to be worried about whether the guy approaching on one of the trails is packing a concealed weapon.

And they won’t have to worry about that if the Senate does what it should do with Allen’s bill - consign it to the legislative ash heap.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: aliens; banglist; bluecollarriffraff; ccw; crimaliens; georgeallen; gunbanners; jimwebb; mexicandrugcartels; nationalparks; unwashedsheeple; virginia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-113 next last
To: tx_eggman

Read it again. They are all Mexican Drug Cartels doing the growing. They've "taken" the land.


81 posted on 11/30/2006 12:27:41 PM PST by WatchingInAmazement ("Nothing is more expensive than cheap labor," prof. Vernon Briggs, labor economist Cornell Un.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: Myrddin
Let’s see how many reasons there are to carry a concealed weapon into a national park.

I'm sure I can think of more, but that's the short list of real hazards that justify carrying a firearm inside a national park.

The article has already mentioned, "rattlesnake or some other potentially deadly critter," (I think that covers your first two, if not all five) and "any attackers - real or imagined" (which covers your last three) and then dismissed them: "none of them are particularly legitimate."

My point is that the entire article is ridiculous and there is no arguing with the mentally impaired.

82 posted on 11/30/2006 12:29:37 PM PST by etlib (No creature without tentacles has ever developed true intelligence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim
Parks are for peace not concealed guns

OK

83 posted on 11/30/2006 12:32:43 PM PST by Tribune7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WatchingInAmazement
They are all Mexican Drug Cartels doing the growing

Sorry, I can't gag that little "factoid" down without a grain of salt. LEO's would have me believe that it's all the big bad cartels .. that's their bread and butter.

Prior to the law changes there were plenty of home grown entrepreneurs out there ... they didn't all disappear.

84 posted on 11/30/2006 12:42:10 PM PST by tx_eggman (Democrat Campaign Slogan - 2006: "Bring Out The Gimp!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: tx_eggman
LEO's would have me believe that it's all the big bad cartels .. that's their bread and butter.

Looks like you are going to believe what you want regardless of FACTS. Hundreds of small counties are going UNDER trying to fight these drug cartels.

Believe what you wish, at OUR peril. Sorry I confused you with facts. You obviously don't want to check it out yourself. Keep your family out of the forests and national parks. I don't want to be reading about you and yours next.

85 posted on 11/30/2006 2:24:38 PM PST by WatchingInAmazement ("Nothing is more expensive than cheap labor," prof. Vernon Briggs, labor economist Cornell Un.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Head

DITTO that.


86 posted on 11/30/2006 11:30:31 PM PST by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: potlatch; PhilDragoo; ntnychik; gb63

87 posted on 12/01/2006 12:41:22 AM PST by devolve ( .................always shop, invest, & hire wisely)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim
Surely there are others, but none of them are particularly legitimate.

Oh?


One does not need excuses, when they already have RIGHTS.

88 posted on 12/01/2006 5:40:58 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim
But why the need to carry concealed weapons into a national park?

There is no NEED, if you've already got RIGHTS.

89 posted on 12/01/2006 5:42:03 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim
They don’t need to have to be worried about whether the guy approaching on one of the trails is packing a concealed weapon.

Huh??

I guess NO one gets mugged or killed in parks, eh?


What's that bumper sticker:

Better to have a gun and not need it than not have a gun when you do need it.


90 posted on 12/01/2006 5:44:27 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim

Speak softly, and carry a big stick.


The use of this proverb in english appears to have begun with Theodore Roosevelt. He is quoted as saying 'I have always been fond of the West African proverb - speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.'

91 posted on 12/01/2006 5:47:07 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Blitherer
The point is that they have the right to carry it.

Details.....

92 posted on 12/01/2006 5:47:51 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: fredhead
...police believe drugs may have been involved.

Ya think?

93 posted on 12/01/2006 5:56:47 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: ReignOfError
... (if the surrounding state allows it...

Bull$hit!!!

The 'state' has taken AWAY your right - give by the Founders of this Nation!

What are you going to do to get it back??

94 posted on 12/01/2006 6:01:43 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: MortMan

Me too, but I figger they wuz in a hurry to type it in...


95 posted on 12/01/2006 6:03:33 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Agreed!

I am armed everywhere I go.


96 posted on 12/01/2006 6:04:58 AM PST by liberty or death
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: etlib

You left out:

Broken leg gained by falling over the edge of a remote trail.


97 posted on 12/01/2006 6:07:45 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim
Parks are for peace, not concealed guns

GirlThink. It's going to get us all killed.

98 posted on 12/01/2006 6:34:27 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("When the government is invasive, the people are wanting." -- Tao Te Ching)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim

bkmakr


99 posted on 12/01/2006 6:38:06 AM PST by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/optimism_nov8th.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Domandred

exactly...because we all know that crimminals obey all the gun laws.

..they do...don't they?


100 posted on 12/01/2006 6:52:29 AM PST by woollyone (a man self-deceived is twice deceived)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-113 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson