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Park rangers oppose bid to ease gun ban
By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press Writer Mon Feb 25, 8:14 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Park rangers, retirees and conservation groups are protesting a plan by the Interior Department to reconsider regulations restricting loaded guns in national parks.
The groups say current regulations requiring that visitors to national parks render their weapons inaccessible were working and have made national parks among the safest places in America.
"Loaded guns are not needed and are not appropriate in our national parks," said Doug Morris, a retired park superintendent and member of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.
The plan to reconsider the gun regulations "could break what is not broken and change the nature of our national parks," Morris said Monday.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said Friday that his department will review gun laws on lands administered by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials will draw up new rules by April 30 for public comment, Kempthorne said in a letter to 50 senators who requested the review.
The National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates hailed the announcement as the first step to relax a decades-old ban on bringing loaded firearms into national parks.
"Law-abiding citizens should not be prohibited from protecting themselves and their families while enjoying America's national parks and wildlife refuges," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist.
A Kempthorne spokesman emphasized the review was in its early stages, but said it made sense to update regulations that were last changed in the early 1980s.
"It's appropriate to look at updating these regulations, to bring them into conformity with state laws" on guns use, said Chris Paolino, an Interior Department spokesman.
Conservation groups and park rangers disagreed, saying the plan amounted to surrender to the NRA.
The gun ban "has not been a major issue at national parks in recent years," said Bryan Faehner of the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocacy group.
The restrictions, which require that guns be unloaded and placed somewhere that is not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk, "were reasonable then and are reasonable now," Faehner said. "This is not about guns. It's not about parks. It's a hardball political issue injected by the NRA in an election year," he said.
Kempthorne's announcement follows letters complaining about the gun restriction from half the Senate — 41 Republicans and nine Democrats.
Sen. Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican who organized the letters, said he was pleased that Kempthorne — a former Idaho governor and senator — was "taking steps to uphold the rights of citizens under the Second Amendment and eliminate inconsistent regulations."
Crapo and other lawmakers had complained to Kempthorne that the existing guidelines were "confusing, burdensome and unnecessary."
The dispute over guns in parks has spilled into the Senate, where it is holding up a vote on a massive public lands bill. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has sponsored an amendment that would allow gun owners to carry loaded, accessible firearms into national parks and wildlife refuges.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has blocked a vote on the amendment, saying it is not related to the underlying bill, which would expand wilderness protection in several Western states and establish national heritage areas in several other states, among dozens of provisions.
Democrats also accuse Coburn of bad faith, saying he only raised the politically charged gun issue after the letters to Kempthorne were made public.
Why not guns in libraries, in hospitals, and in the White House. I mean the 2nd ammendment doesn't say anything about not having guns there. So obviously everyone should be allowed to have guns in every possible location. The real question is are spear guns covered under the 2nd ammendment, because that new national park that bush setup in Hawaii, people should be allowed guns while scuba diving, cause after all that is what the founding fathers intended.
Update:
WASHINGTON — People will soon be able to carry concealed, loaded guns in most national parks and wildlife refuges.
The Bush administration said Friday it is overturning a 25-year-old federal rule that severely restricts loaded guns in national parks.
Under a rule to take effect in January, visitors will be able to carry a loaded gun into a park or wildlife refuge _ but only if the person has a permit for a concealed weapon and if the state where the park or refuge is located also allows concealed firearms.
The new rule goes further than a draft proposal issued last spring and would allow concealed weapons even in parks located in states that explicitly ban the carrying of guns in state parks. Some states allow concealed weapons but also ban guns from parks.
"If you can carry (a gun) on Main Street, you are allowed to carry in a national park," said Chris Paolino. a spokesman for the Interior Department.
The Interior Department rule overturns a Reagan-era regulation that has restricted loaded guns in parks and wildlife refuges. The previous regulation required that firearms be unloaded and placed somewhere that is not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk.
Assistant Interior Secretary Lyle Laverty said the new rule respects a long tradition of states and the federal government working together on natural resource issues.
The regulation allows individuals to carry concealed firearms in federal parks and wildlife refuges to the same extent they can lawfully do so under state law, Laverty said, adding that the approach is in line with rules adopted by the federal Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Those agencies let visitors carry weapons consistent with applicable federal and state laws.
Story continues below
The National Rifle Association hailed the rule change, which will take effect next month before President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
"We are pleased that the Interior Department recognizes the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families while enjoying America's national parks and wildlife refuges," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist.
The rule will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners on federal lands and make federal law consistent with the state where the lands are located, Cox said. The NRA led efforts to change gun regulations they called inconsistent and unclear.
A group representing park rangers, retirees and conservation organizations said the rule change will lead to confusion for visitors, rangers and other law enforcement agencies.
"Once again, political leaders in the Bush administration have ignored the preferences of the American public by succumbing to political pressure, in this case generated by the National Rifle Association," said Bill Wade, president of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.
"This regulation will put visitors, employees and precious resources of the National Park System at risk. We will do everything possible to overturn it and return to a commonsense approach to guns in national parks that has been working for decades," Wade said.
The park rule will be published in the Federal Register early next week and take effect 30 days later, well before Obama takes office Jan. 20. Overturning the rule could take months or even years, since it would require the new administration to restart the lengthy rule-making process.
Nick Shapiro, a spokesman for President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, said no decision had been made on the gun rule.
"President-elect Obama will review all eleventh-hour regulations and will address them once he is president," he said.
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, hailed the new rule. Crapo and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., had organized letters to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne complaining about the gun restrictions. The letters were signed by half the Senate _ 41 Republicans and nine Democrats.
"I congratulate Secretary Kempthorne for taking this stand. The rule as it has come out is what we asked for with regard to handguns," Crapo said. "It's a very, very significant improvement."
Crapo called the current rule confusing and complex and said it "literally resulted in different standards as you traveled through the same state."
But Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the new rule was a mistake.
"The Reagan-era rules have stood the test of time and make our national parks safe for all who visit them," Feinstein said. "The Bush administration changes will make our national parks more dangerous and will upset the delicate balance that exists between park visitors and wildlife."
Interior spokesman Paolino said the rule would not affect a ban on guns in federal buildings. Guns will still be prohibited in national icons such as Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty, he said. Guns also will be banned in visitor centers and other buildings at national parks.
By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press Writer Mon Feb 25, 8:14 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Park rangers, retirees and conservation groups are protesting a plan by the Interior Department to reconsider regulations restricting loaded guns in national parks.
The groups say current regulations requiring that visitors to national parks render their weapons inaccessible were working and have made national parks among the safest places in America.
"Loaded guns are not needed and are not appropriate in our national parks," said Doug Morris, a retired park superintendent and member of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.
The plan to reconsider the gun regulations "could break what is not broken and change the nature of our national parks," Morris said Monday.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said Friday that his department will review gun laws on lands administered by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials will draw up new rules by April 30 for public comment, Kempthorne said in a letter to 50 senators who requested the review.
The National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates hailed the announcement as the first step to relax a decades-old ban on bringing loaded firearms into national parks.
"Law-abiding citizens should not be prohibited from protecting themselves and their families while enjoying America's national parks and wildlife refuges," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist.
A Kempthorne spokesman emphasized the review was in its early stages, but said it made sense to update regulations that were last changed in the early 1980s.
"It's appropriate to look at updating these regulations, to bring them into conformity with state laws" on guns use, said Chris Paolino, an Interior Department spokesman.
Conservation groups and park rangers disagreed, saying the plan amounted to surrender to the NRA.
The gun ban "has not been a major issue at national parks in recent years," said Bryan Faehner of the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocacy group.
The restrictions, which require that guns be unloaded and placed somewhere that is not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk, "were reasonable then and are reasonable now," Faehner said. "This is not about guns. It's not about parks. It's a hardball political issue injected by the NRA in an election year," he said.
Kempthorne's announcement follows letters complaining about the gun restriction from half the Senate — 41 Republicans and nine Democrats.
Sen. Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican who organized the letters, said he was pleased that Kempthorne — a former Idaho governor and senator — was "taking steps to uphold the rights of citizens under the Second Amendment and eliminate inconsistent regulations."
Crapo and other lawmakers had complained to Kempthorne that the existing guidelines were "confusing, burdensome and unnecessary."
The dispute over guns in parks has spilled into the Senate, where it is holding up a vote on a massive public lands bill. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has sponsored an amendment that would allow gun owners to carry loaded, accessible firearms into national parks and wildlife refuges.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has blocked a vote on the amendment, saying it is not related to the underlying bill, which would expand wilderness protection in several Western states and establish national heritage areas in several other states, among dozens of provisions.
Democrats also accuse Coburn of bad faith, saying he only raised the politically charged gun issue after the letters to Kempthorne were made public.
Why not guns in libraries, in hospitals, and in the White House. I mean the 2nd ammendment doesn't say anything about not having guns there. So obviously everyone should be allowed to have guns in every possible location. The real question is are spear guns covered under the 2nd ammendment, because that new national park that bush setup in Hawaii, people should be allowed guns while scuba diving, cause after all that is what the founding fathers intended.
Update:
WASHINGTON — People will soon be able to carry concealed, loaded guns in most national parks and wildlife refuges.
The Bush administration said Friday it is overturning a 25-year-old federal rule that severely restricts loaded guns in national parks.
Under a rule to take effect in January, visitors will be able to carry a loaded gun into a park or wildlife refuge _ but only if the person has a permit for a concealed weapon and if the state where the park or refuge is located also allows concealed firearms.
The new rule goes further than a draft proposal issued last spring and would allow concealed weapons even in parks located in states that explicitly ban the carrying of guns in state parks. Some states allow concealed weapons but also ban guns from parks.
"If you can carry (a gun) on Main Street, you are allowed to carry in a national park," said Chris Paolino. a spokesman for the Interior Department.
The Interior Department rule overturns a Reagan-era regulation that has restricted loaded guns in parks and wildlife refuges. The previous regulation required that firearms be unloaded and placed somewhere that is not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk.
Assistant Interior Secretary Lyle Laverty said the new rule respects a long tradition of states and the federal government working together on natural resource issues.
The regulation allows individuals to carry concealed firearms in federal parks and wildlife refuges to the same extent they can lawfully do so under state law, Laverty said, adding that the approach is in line with rules adopted by the federal Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Those agencies let visitors carry weapons consistent with applicable federal and state laws.
Story continues below
The National Rifle Association hailed the rule change, which will take effect next month before President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
"We are pleased that the Interior Department recognizes the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families while enjoying America's national parks and wildlife refuges," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist.
The rule will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners on federal lands and make federal law consistent with the state where the lands are located, Cox said. The NRA led efforts to change gun regulations they called inconsistent and unclear.
A group representing park rangers, retirees and conservation organizations said the rule change will lead to confusion for visitors, rangers and other law enforcement agencies.
"Once again, political leaders in the Bush administration have ignored the preferences of the American public by succumbing to political pressure, in this case generated by the National Rifle Association," said Bill Wade, president of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.
"This regulation will put visitors, employees and precious resources of the National Park System at risk. We will do everything possible to overturn it and return to a commonsense approach to guns in national parks that has been working for decades," Wade said.
The park rule will be published in the Federal Register early next week and take effect 30 days later, well before Obama takes office Jan. 20. Overturning the rule could take months or even years, since it would require the new administration to restart the lengthy rule-making process.
Nick Shapiro, a spokesman for President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, said no decision had been made on the gun rule.
"President-elect Obama will review all eleventh-hour regulations and will address them once he is president," he said.
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, hailed the new rule. Crapo and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., had organized letters to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne complaining about the gun restrictions. The letters were signed by half the Senate _ 41 Republicans and nine Democrats.
"I congratulate Secretary Kempthorne for taking this stand. The rule as it has come out is what we asked for with regard to handguns," Crapo said. "It's a very, very significant improvement."
Crapo called the current rule confusing and complex and said it "literally resulted in different standards as you traveled through the same state."
But Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the new rule was a mistake.
"The Reagan-era rules have stood the test of time and make our national parks safe for all who visit them," Feinstein said. "The Bush administration changes will make our national parks more dangerous and will upset the delicate balance that exists between park visitors and wildlife."
Interior spokesman Paolino said the rule would not affect a ban on guns in federal buildings. Guns will still be prohibited in national icons such as Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty, he said. Guns also will be banned in visitor centers and other buildings at national parks.
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can I use to defend myself with other then that. It's not like they'd let me bring in a Machete or Sword and with a knife I'd probably be slashed half to death and maybe get in a few cuts. Saying this I could see some people faking and say "That BEAR attacked me!" actually inciting it or shooting it to get a trophy.
