Posted on 05/02/2008 9:34:48 AM PDT by radar101
Statement of Senator Dianne Feinstein on Interior Secretary’s Proposed Rule Change Allowing Loaded Firearms in America’s National Parks and Wildlife Refuges
-Radical change to Reagan-era gun restrictions would put public at grave risk-
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today strongly criticized a proposed rule change, announced by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, that would ease Reagan-era restrictions on carrying loaded firearms in America’s national parks and wildlife refuges.
The following is Senator Feinstein’s statement:
“I never thought I’d see the day when the Interior Department of the United States would allow weapons – including concealed weapons – to be carried freely in our national parks and wildlife refuges. To me, this is appalling, and puts both people and animals at risk.
Today, a sensible regulation is in place in each of America’s 390 national parks. Under this rule, gun owners are prohibited from carrying loaded weapons into parks, although they are free to transport firearms in their vehicles. This rule goes back more than 100 years in some parks, and was applied across the board by President Reagan in 1983. Decades of experience shows that it works.
Now, with this proposed rule change, the Interior Department intends to dismantle this proven, effective rule. In its place would be a new rule which would say that federal regulations must be aligned with individual state concealed-weapons laws that apply in state parks.
This change makes no sense. It would create an incoherent, ineffective, and inconsistent patchwork of policies – across the country, and in some places within the same national parks. For example, Death Valley National Park is in California and Nevada. California prohibits loaded and accessible weapons in its state parks. Nevada does not. So which state law would apply at Death Valley National Park? This sort of inconsistency would be an open invitation to poachers, would be almost impossible to enforce, and would seriously place public safety at risk.
The American public consistently rates our national parks at the top of federal government programs that work well. There is no need to ‘fix’ a system that our citizens tell us is not broken. I hope we can reverse this next year.”
Senator Feinstein didn’t mention the increase in Mexicans using the Nation Parks as a place to grow marijuana, nor did she mention the recent attacks on people by the mountain lions, etc.
I’m sure that Senator Feinstein has probably never even been in a park, and if she were, she’s probably got bodyguards.
I liked this statement:
“The American public consistently rates our national parks at the top of federal government programs that work well.”
What does the federal government do to make a national park “work well”?
For example, Death Valley National Park is in California and Nevada. California prohibits loaded and accessible weapons in its state parks. Nevada does not. So which state law would apply at Death Valley National Park?
Boy Diane, that is really a hard one....Duh!
Californians are prohibited while Nevadans can carry, what is so difficult about that!
In fact Californians should probably be prohibited from LEAVING THE STATE just to protect the rest of from their
insanity
Always preview...
In fact Californians should probably be prohibited from LEAVING THE STATE
just to protect the rest of US from their insanity
We gotta build a wikipedia entry for the term: B.S.
It would be a perfect example to provide a link to this Feinstein statement in the wiki description for B.S.
Someone ask the good Senator what she carries in her hideaway holster.
Any one else for voting California OUT of the Union?
“It would create an incoherent, ineffective, and inconsistent patchwork of policies – “
That’s what a representative federal republic is all about. Local authority and local rule. As for ineffective, I doubt the senator could point to examples of ineffectiveness of local, state authority. Oh, wait, Katrina, that’s right, but that was you-know-who’s fault wunnit.
Going one on one or one on many against an angry moose or rabid wolf in bad health is not my idea of fun. I don't EXPECT it to happen, but it DOES happen, albeit rarely.
The experience is that unarmed victims ended up dead. There's nothing sensible about how that works at all.
So all these years I’ve visited Acadia National Park with a 9mm in the glove department I’ve been breaking the law??
“Alone in the woods where bodies can be disappeared forever, but we wouldn’t want anybody to be able to defend themselves there.”
The operative word is concealed. Not seen,not used, not a problem. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. There are areas here ( SF Bay area) that are relatively accessible to certain population centers where fishermen have been robbed while fishing alone.
How else can you shoot polar bears?
Simple solution: Let the Feds establish universal carry, concealed or otherwise throughout the land. They have never balked at over riding laws of the several states when they opposed the constitution.
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36 CFR § 2.4 (code of federal regulations - National Parks system)
2.4 Weapons, traps and nets.
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and Parts 7 (special regulations) and 13 (Alaska regulations), the following are prohibited:
(i) Possessing a weapon, trap or net
(ii) Carrying a weapon, trap or net
(iii) Using a weapon, trap or net
(2) Weapons, traps or nets may be carried, possessed or used:
(i) At designated times and locations in park areas where: (A) The taking of wildlife is authorized by law in accordance with § 2.2 of this chapter;
(B) The taking of fish is authorized by law in accordance with § 2.3 of this part.
(ii) When used for target practice at designated times and at facilities or locations designed and constructed specifically for this purpose and designated pursuant to special regulations.
(iii) Within a residential dwelling. For purposes of this subparagraph only, the term "residential dwelling" means a fixed housing structure which is either the principal residence of its occupants, or is occupied on a regular and recurring basis by its occupants as an alternate residence or vacation home.
(3) Traps, nets and unloaded weapons may be possessed within a temporary lodging or mechanical mode of conveyance when such implements are rendered temporarily inoperable or are packed, cased or stored in a manner that will prevent their ready use.
(b) Carrying or possessing a loaded weapon in a motor vehicle, vessel or other mode of transportation is prohibited, except that carrying or possessing a loaded weapon in a vessel is allowed when such vessel is not being propelled by machinery and is used as a shooting platform in accordance with Federal and State law. (c) The use of a weapon, trap or net in a manner that endangers persons or property is prohibited.
(d) The superintendent may issue a permit to carry or possess a weapon, trap or net under the following circumstances:
(1) When necessary to support research activities conducted in accordance with § 2.5.
(2) To carry firearms for persons in charge of pack trains or saddle horses for emergency use.
(3) For employees, agents or cooperating officials in the performance of their official duties.
(4) To provide access to otherwise inaccessible lands or waters contiguous to a park area when other means of access are otherwise impracticable or impossible.
Violation of the terms and conditions of a permit issued pursuant to this paragraph is prohibited and may result in the suspension or revocation of the permit.
(e) Authorized Federal, State and local law enforcement officers may carry firearms in the performance of their official duties.
(f) The carrying or possessing of a weapon, trap or net in violation of applicable Federal and State laws is prohibited.
(g) The regulations contained in this section apply, regardless of land ownership, on all lands and waters within a park area that are under the legislative jurisdiction of the United States.
A$$HAT!!
“Death Valley National Park is in California and Nevada. California prohibits loaded and accessible weapons in its state parks. Nevada does not. So which state law would apply at Death Valley National Park?”
Read the cite. The rule applies to those parks and portions thereof which are contained in the state boundary. If you carry, go to the Nevada side!
This dimbulb doesn’t realize that her objection to “...inconsistent patchwork of regulations and rules (para)...,” would be most simply alleviated by ENFORCING THE SECOND AMENDMENT AS IT STANDS WRITTEN!!! What part of “...the right of the people...shall not be infringed” don’t these bureau-critters not understand!?!?!?
Ruefully
We certainly are!
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