Private citizens carrying weapons in parks – an appealing idea from my perspective. I’ve been exposed to numerous stories in the last decade that are burned into my memory of young women and older couples being horribly victimized by deranged psychopaths while they were out exploring our national treasures. Not to mention the non-human predators you might encounter. I have seen a few shows on people mauled by bears, mountain lions and other critters.
The Bush administration, after more than seven years, has finally issued regulations permitting the carrying of firearms in national parks. Gun owners will soon be able to carry firearms according to the laws of the state in which the park is located.
While not perfect, the proposed regulations, which are likely to take effect at the end of June 2008, represent a sharp contrast with the steadfast refusal to allow for self-defense in national parks.
The bureaucrats responded after a crescendo of congressional activity. Senator Tom Coburn has made efforts to put the matter before the Senate, and would have done so had Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid not broken his word to Coburn to allow him to have a vote on the measure. Also, 47 Senators signed a letter to the Department of the Interior urging that the ban be removed.
In the House, there are now three bills that would open national parks to carrying firearms as regulated by the state in which the park is located.
The most recent bill, and the most comprehensive, is that of GOA Life Member Paul Broun (R-GA), who was elected to Congress in July of last year. Rep. Broun has introduced HR 5646, the “Protecting the Second Amendment and Hunting Rights on Federal Lands Act of 2008.”
If you can take action on this issue, and you’re a pro private carry rights enthusiast I recommend you write a letter, make a phone call and let your voice be heard wherever possible. Parks are a great place to have a gun when something goes wrong – the ranger may be an hour or more away. And he’s probably busy looking for people who are fishing illegally.
To anyone reading this who is against the idea that private citizens should be allowed to have guns in our national parks – you go ahead and fight that bear with the biggest stick you can find. I’ll do things my way and continue to fight against anyone who thinks we need to limit weapons to special classes of citizens who wear uniforms and may or may not be there when a weapon is needed.