The president recently signed a piece of credit card reform legislation that included an amendment to allow the lawful carry of firearms in national parks for the purpose of self-defense.
Gun control advocates are crying foul because obviously, guns have nothing to do with credit card reform, but considering the dirty tricks they played in the past, they don't have my sympathy. I am all for restoring our Second Amendment rights by any means possible.
Naturally, they have to play up the baseless hysterics about people running around with AK-47s (1, 2, and 3), ignoring the fact that the open carrying of a loaded long gun is illegal in a vast majority of states unless you're on hunting grounds or a gun range.
Speaking of hunting, another one of the lies being perpetuated is now that lawfully carried firearms are allowed in national parks, there will be an uptick in poaching. They conveniently leave out the fact, that poaching in a national park is already illegal and those who are intent on breaking that law will not be inconvenienced by one more law.
Once you get past the hysterics and fear-mongering, this legislation changes very little. All it does is allow state law to apply to national parks. It won't increase the numbers of people carrying guns. It won't allow any currently prohibited person to carry a gun. You won't be allowed to carry any kind of gun you want. It won't allow people to open fire for any reason. You won't be able to carry a gun in the Statue of Liberty or the National Mall. Our national parks will now be under the same firearms laws as our movie theaters and shopping malls. No longer will a person have to worry about becoming a criminal just because they crossed an invisible barrier.
At the end of the day, this latest tantrum is just a continuation of the gun controllers' "blood will run the streets" meme. For almost a quarter of a century, law-abiding citizens have been able to legally carry a firearm for protection. And each time a new place or population becomes open to carrying, the gun controllers give dire predictions of "wild west shoot-outs" over parking spaces and hurt feelings. Yet none of these predictions come true.
3 comments:
You know what sounds like hysterics to me? This: "lawful carry of firearms in national parks for the purpose of self-defense."Self defense against what, exactly? Criminals, grizzlies, what?
The whole notion of self defense is a little exaggerated, in any case. How many times lately have you had to shoot yourself out of a difficult situation? And naturally you pro-gun guys say I'm living in la-la land. I really think it's quite the opposite.
I've had to shoot myself out of a situation about as many times as i've had to use my fire extinguisher. None.
Are you living in la-la land? I don't know. But being prepared is infinitely superior to being unprepared. If the park rangers are carrying guns, the notion of self-defense can't be too exaggerated.
Guns Could Be Lifesavers in National and State Parks.
The anti-gun fearmongers would have us believe that crime will increase in national parks if government permits the carry of concealed weapons on National Park Service property.
They ignore the reality of current criminal activity in parks. Assaults, rapes, and murder are already a problem in state and national parks. That is why many park rangers wear a gun and bullet proof vest.
The fact is campers and hikers in national and state parks currently have no legal means of protecting themselves from criminals on these properties and are falling victim at an alarming rate, as more violent criminals seek refuge in these remote areas.
Meredith Emerson, Irene and John Bryant and Cheryl Dunlap were all killed (one beheaded) while hiking in national and state forests in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina in the last 18 months. This is fact.
If only they had a means of defending themselves, maybe they would be alive today.
I am glad NPS regulations have been amended should be amended to allow concealed carry by persons legally entitled to do so in the state. As a frequent wilderness camper and hiker, I run across some strange people and have had numerous close calls with wildlife. However, it is the two legged animal that should be feared the most.
BRIAN BOYLE, Tampa, Florida
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