Keep guns out of state parks (BARF ALERT-MEGA FREEP)

The Northern Virginia Journal ^ | 12/4/02 | SIRI-GIAN KHALSA

[chambley1]

Keep guns out of state parks

I was startled beyond belief while blissfully visiting one of my favorite hiking grounds - the idyllic Sky Meadows State Park.

I came across a public notice that is actually asking for comments to two different petitions that would legalize guns in state parks.

How could anyone even consider such a perversion? The Chancey Petition seeks ``to allow open carry of holstered firearms in (VA) State Parks."

The second, the McHugh Petition, wants ``to allow open carry of all firearms in (VA) State Parks."

If either of these become law, it would then be illegal to disarm anyone who brought a gun of any kind - from a handgun to a military-style weapon - into a state park in Virginia.

These gun carriers could range from muggers, thieves and rapists to drug dealers who carry their business into the parks (which I have seen done in other states), to psychotics, to bravado-proving teenagers, to law-abiding citizens who just happen to accidentally shoot someone they wish they hadn't.

A gun is built to be violently dangerous. It is designed to kill humans and animals. Gun accidents are inevitable.

Why would anyone even consider allowing these killing tools in a state park? Why can't we continue to reserve these magnificent Virginia lands to escape our very real terrorist and sniper-stress?

We need these gun-free zones for ourselves, our families and especially our children.

I, for one, don't want fear of violent weapons to rob me of my precious regeneration time in our outstandingly beautiful parks.

All Virginia citizens can influence the outcome of these petitions by identifying them by name (Chancey and McHugh) and responding by 5 p.m. Dec. 9by e-mail regcord@dcr.state.va.us or by fax to (804) 786-6141.

Letters can be sent to The Regulatory Coordinator, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor St., Suite 302, Richmond, VA 23219.

Another morbid surprise on the same public notice is that Gov. Mark Warner, in response to a formal opinion by the state attorney general, has directed a separate regulatory action to allow carrying of concealed handguns within state parks by holders of a valid concealed handgun permit.Time is short to insure our safety in nature. Only our outspoken opposition can stop legalization of guns with all the associated danger in our state parks.

SIRI-GIAN KHALSA

Falls Church

[Bodacious]

"muggers, thieves and rapists to drug dealers who carry their business into the parks (which I have seen done in other states)"
You have answered your own rant/question. If you think an untrained,unarmed $7.50 an hour state employee is going to protect you and yours, you are sadly mistaken. Today you must first count upon yourself and take the responsibility of your personal protection.

[DWSUWF]

"...SIRI-GIAN KHALSA..."

I would have thought that a Klingon wouldn't object to those around them being armed.

[FreedomPoster]

ROFLOL!

[RogueIsland]

These gun carriers could range from muggers, thieves and rapists to drug dealers who carry their business into the parks

Well, thank goodness that muggers, thieves, and rapists are unable to carry on their business where it is illegal to carry a firearm.

[Pookie Me]

We need these gun-free zones for ourselves, our families and especially our children.

"THINK OF THE CHIIIILDRUUNNN" Ping!

Pookie & ME

[RogueIsland]

I, for one, don't want fear of violent weapons

Violent weapons? None of my guns have any sort of discipline or behavior problems at all.

[chambley1]

Write a letter to the editor in reponse to this. Include your name, address and phone number.

Northern Virginia Journal

vaedit@jrnl.com

[Sender]

Yes, thank God that muggers, thieves and rapists are still unable to carry weapons due to law. Why would we want to arm criminals?

[kaylar]

Two words : Cary Stayner. He used a national park (Yosemite) as his stalking ground.

[Issaquahking]

Thank you for posting this. We in FR do need to be aware of the ranting and ravings of a goof like the person who wrote the article. Weapons are only dangerous when they are held by a criminal out to do criminal action. I always carry my weapon close when travelling and have never had to use it yet, but it's there if I ever have to put a stop to something. Something also includes acts by nature - such as stopping a bear attack.

[TC Rider]

Two words : Cary Stayner. He used a national park (Yosemite) as his stalking ground.

Seems like two lesbians were stalked and killed on the Appalachia trail not far from here, 8 or 10 years ago.

[Ben Ficklin]

You can be sure that the VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation is a recipient of grants of Pittman- Robertson money from USFWS. Pitt-Rob is a 70 yo, 12% excise tax on hunting equipment and supplies that Treasury turns over(100%) to USFWS that is then granted back to the states.

I suppose that at one time Pitt-Rob money was used exclusively for the betterment of hunting, but in modern times it gets used for many things not related to the betterment of hunting. It is sometimes used to the detriment of hunters.

Consider that since most hunters fish, they are also paying that 12% excise on fishing products under Dingell-Johnson(1950s) which is handled the same way.

The hunters and fihers pay their way while the others that use the public lands do not.

The best example of this is the Fee Demo plan put in effect by Congess in 1998 in response to declining revenues in the Natl Forests because of declining logging. This was a nominal fee for those that wanted to camp, hike, climb, bike, backpack, birdwatch, etc in the Natl Forests. It has been renewed each year and expanded to other federal lands. These users, however, do not think that they should be charged to use the resources and there has been much complaining, strife, and civil disobedience by the "I want it free" crowd.

Hunters should not be taxed to support those that want to stop hunting.

[Mulder]

SIRI-GIAN KHALSA

This turd need to get the f*** out of my country and go back to whatever third-world sh*thole he came from.

Attempting to overthrow our Bill of Rights, as this terrorist is attempting to do, should be dealt with by deportation at least, and a public hanging at most (after a trial by jury, of course)

[Search4Truth]

Sacred of his own shadow.

[Katya]

LOL....Northern VA is home to a group of converted caucasian Sikh's. For some cultural or religious reason they all have the last name Khalsa....a great deal of them are ex=hippies, which may explain some of their left leanings. True, I am assuming that this writer is white.

[Search4Truth]

Sacred=Scared

Need more coffee!

[Search4Truth]

Biographical Notes:

Dr. Siri Gian Singh Khalsa

Siri Gian Singh Khalsa, Ph.D. brings an abundant variety of wisdom, light hearted humor, and practical applications into his fascinating and popular classes. For more than fifteen years he has taught yoga and adult education classes in Northern California.

Born in Oakland and raised in Sacramento, Siri Gian earned a B.A. with honors from U.C. Berkeley and an M.A. from UCLA in African History in 1968. While teaching at colleges in the U.S. and abroad, he practiced Hatha Yoga and T.M. for five years before devoting 25 years to the practice of Kundalini Yoga, meditation and Tantra under Yogi Bhajan, who gave him his Sikh name in 1974.

Dr. Khalsa spent several years living in Ashrams (spiritual communities) and 11 years abroad studying with traditional healers and other wise people. Siri Gian's studies also include Jin Shin Acupressure during a two year apprenticeship with Iona Teeguarden, studies in Herbology with Ron Teeguarden and Shatoiya de la Tour, Shamanic African healing with Togbe Agbaga in West Africa, seven years of weekly voice study with Barbara Klein, and the study of Reichian Therapy under Dr. Phillip Curcuruto who supervised his 1981 Ph.D. thesis in Psychology.

Siri Gian provides students an opportunity to enlarge their perspective of Eastern and Western approaches to well being. For a glimpse of his depth and range of expertise, available here is a listing of some of the classes and workshops he has taught.

Siri Gian is available for individual Reichian Therapy sessions in Sacramento and San Francisco, California.

[tet68]

Ummmmm. I don't suppose these laws would apply to Sikh's carrying knives?

Mr. Khalsa.

[DWSUWF]

"...True, I am assuming that this writer is white..."

And cowardly...

And dull-witted...

And disloyal...

And undeserving of citizenship.