McD: Don’t pack heat in national parks

seattlepi.com ^ | 17 February, 2012 | Joel Connelly

[marktwain]

In a display of defiance at the U.S. Capitol’s governing gun lobby, Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., and eight colleagues have introduced legislation to reinstate a ban on carrying loaded firearms in America’s national parks.

The legislation was prompted by January’s murder of Mt. Rainier National Park ranger Margaret Anderson. Anderson was shot as she set up a road block for a car that didn’t stop at a chain-up checkpoint.

By Joe Sebille“The dreadful and deeply saddening event that occurred on Mt. Rainier makes me question why on earth people should be allowed to carry loaded weapons in our national parks,” said McDermott.

It became illegal to pack heat in national parks in the early 1980′s under the Reagan Administration.

The gun ban was overturned in 2009. Senate Republicans attached a pack-heat provision to legislation designed to control excesses and hidden fees charged by credit card companies.

Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., is cosponsoring the legislation along with House members from California, New York and Virginia.

Advocates for loaded guns have cited such dangers as encounters with grizzly bears in the back country of national parks in the Rockies and Alaska. In response, an association of National Park Service retirees has argued that statistically there is a greater chance that visitors will be struck by lightning than mauled by a bruin.

“Millions of families visit our national park historic sites and monuments every year to see our nationally protected sanctuaries and learn about our nation’s history,” said McDermott. “Why anyone should need or be allowed to carry a loaded firearm in our national parks simply doesn’t occur to me.”

[tumblindice]

http://soundpolitics.com/archives/014761.html

He sounds like a Kathleen Whatshername CINO.

[hummingbird]

How about we “ban” McDermott.

He looks like the biggest danger here.

Is this guy “Baghdad Jim”?

[going hot]

The proper response would be to transport the sponsors of this legislation 50 miles into Denali and then have them walk out, without phones or firearms.

To demonstrate the feasibility, of course.

[GladesGuru]

“What did you say about socialists and trash? I certainly know you have to hang ‘em both pretty high so the bears don’t get ‘em.”

Why would one not want to allow the bears to get to the socialists?

Just askin’.

[golux]

The dreadful and deeply saddening event that occurred on Mt. Rainier makes me question why on earth people should be allowed to carry loaded weapons in our national parks,” said McDermott. How about To protect PARK RANGERS from nut jobs who want to kill THEM, F'TARD!

[hummingbird]

AGREE!

[FreedomPoster]

The next move should they manage to get this passed would be random TSA screenings upon entering NPs, followed by mandatory screenings.

[hummingbird]

I had a vague memory that this guy was one of three who went. Was Daschle one also?

[Still Thinking]

What did you say about socialists and trash? I certainly know you have to hang ‘em both pretty high so the bears don’t get ‘em.

Why would you worry about protecting socialists from being eaten by bears? Are you afraid it might give the bears indigestion or that it might create a strain of socialist bears?

[FreedomPoster]

Logic is not a part of the Liberal mind.

[golux]

Good question, Glades. Socialists, as you know, ingest a great deal of Eruca vesicaria sativa, caffea arabica, and naturally, semen. All of these substances are very, very hard on the livers of our furry friends.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“Isn’t it sad how an elected representative can openly speak about limiting or removing constitutionally-guaranteed rights and nothing happens?”

Yes, but if a politician would even hint at banning the killing of unborn children they would be gone before the week was up.

[TWhiteBear]

Bugger Jim ‘the Snooper’ McDermott should have gone to jail.
TWB

[paul51]

The dreadful and deeply saddening event that occurred on Mt. Rainier makes me question why on earth people should be allowed to carry loaded weapons in our national parks

So they can defend themselves against criminals like the one that killed Anderson, fool.

[angry elephant]

The guy blew past the check point. How does the fool Mcdermott think that he would have been stopped if the park rule was any different?

And the way Mt. Ranier entrances back up for miles on a sunny day, how could they possibly search all the Amish-looking folks trying to get in?

[coloradan]

In response, an association of National Park Service retirees has argued that statistically there is a greater chance that visitors will be struck by lightning than mauled by a bruin.

This is the well-known and widely-accepted argument of "rights deprivation by reason of comparison to getting struck by lightning." By this argument, we should get rid of our entire fleet of ballistic missiles, because there's a greater chance of getting struck by lightning than needing to launch a nuclear counterattack. There's also more of a chance of getting struck by lightning than having some people understand the concept of personal responsibility and logically consequential desire to carry tools to with which one might protect oneself.

[Red in Blue PA]

Civil lawsuits should be brought against people pushing Patently Unconstitutional laws.

[MtBaldy]

The biggest danger facing this country is the parasitic mouth breathers who continue to elect this commie POS, and his buddy Obummer, to office. Unless we can find a way to prevent the “gimme, gimme” crowd from voting this country is doomed.

[P-Marlowe]

This @$$#OLE needs to go camping in a National Park with a sign on his tent that says "I have lots of cash and no gun". Then, after his funeral, maybe his family will know why people should be allowed to carry guns in a National Park.

Bad guys don't obey gun laws.

[SampleMan]

I could have sworn it was already a life-sentence federal felony to murder a park ranger.

Too bad we didn't have a generally unenforceable minor felony law to prevent such an occurrence.

On the same note, let's make it a $20 fine to touch doors or windows with pry bars, that will really put a stop to forced entries.