To dream the impossible dream
Posted on 02/08/2008 9:06:24 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
A proposal facing action by the U.S. Senate would force National Park and National Wildlife Refuge managers to allow more loaded, hidden handguns in national parks and wildlife refuges, endangering the public as well as wildlife.
"This is more of the same from the gun pushers - any gun, anywhere, at any time," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "Why are we putting hikers, campers and families at risk by introducing loaded, hidden handguns into our national parks and refuges? This proposal is a bad idea that the Senate should reject."
Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, an ally of the gun lobby, plans on offering an amendment to a broader bill on public lands issues that would weaken reasonable gun restrictions in Federal lands adopted in 1982 by the Reagan Administration for the National Park Service after extensive comments and review.
At the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, this amendment would undermine the firearms policy discretion of land managers who allow firearms for hunting in many refuges during hunting season, but prohibit them when no hunting is in season or where no hunting is allowed.
The Coburn proposal was the subject of a letter sent in December to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. The letter, signed by a number of U.S. Senators, called for the elimination of common-sense limits that allow park visitors to have firearms as long as they are unloaded and lawfully stored.
Late last week, gun violence prevention groups - the Brady Campaign, the Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and the Violence Policy Center - sent a letter to Secretary Kempthorne indicating that "given the heightened security risks in the post-9/11 world, as well as contemporary concerns about poaching on federal lands, we find the Reagan Administration regulation to be both necessary and appropriate." The letter is available at http://www.bradycampaign.org/action/parks_letter.pdf
A letter sent to Senators last Friday, signed by the Association of National Park Rangers, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees and the U.S. Park Ranger Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police states: "In our view, Senator Coburn's amendment will make poaching in parks even more prevalent than it already is, thus reducing the opportunity for children, families, and Americans from all walks of life to easily view wildife that so many parks provide."
Separately, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees stated in a news release that "It is a hoax to suggest that there is some big demand out there for people to be able to tote semi-automatic weapons on the trails of Yellowstone or nine-millimeter pistols on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The current rules in no way prohibit guns in parks, but they do work to discourage that tiny percentage of irresponsible individuals who would engage in poaching and target practice at the expense of irreplaceable natural and historic sites."
As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.
Bump
Speaking as an ex-moron, I would rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6.
What a wuss he must be!
ZANY I tell ya!
I tried carrying a concealed Ranger, but he was too heavy and he wanted none of that. Now I pack a pistol.
"You will only make it angry."
It then goes on to suggest, "if the bear charges you strike it on the nose and face with your fists to drive it away."
Doh!
If a bullet is just gonna piss off a bear, what do they think one's fists will do?
Late Fall I was exploring deep in the Upper Still Water Forest and found a bouldered-off road. IT had numerous spray-painted signs, which said, “KEEP OUT. You will be shot.” It also had swastikas and what not.
My first thought was dope growers.
You are correct.
I might have to exercise that encouragement.
To dream the impossible dream
Its kind of funny, but in most Nat’l Forests (not Parks) in the West it is perfectly legal to open carry a hand gun, but you will get in big trouble for carrying a rifle unless it is hunting season and you have a hunting license.
“That title is very misleading, which is the gun-grabber’s credo.”
The grabbers can’t seem to make themselves say “concealed.” They think “hidden” comes across as unfair or something. Like they’d support open carry.
Liberals are stupid and ignorant.
“If I remember correctly Ron Paul, FR’s favorite kook, is for allowing visitors to pack heat while in National Parks.”
Well, when all those people who supposedly contributed to his campaign actually vote for him, he can do something about it.
Past and present feeders at the federal trough standing up against the constitution.
That’s it, I will start hitting the parks and start searching for those hidden guns. I will look under every stone, in every hole, in every tree. Every one I find I get to keep though. I realize that I am taking quite a risk given how “dangerous” guns are, they may even have “armor piercing” bullets, but it is a risk I am willing to take.
Re. 31
When are we going to take our country back?
Heh
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