Politics - The National Park gun ban needs opposition PDQ

[Tycer]

Hello,

Regarding right-to -carry guns in National Parks:

The overwhelming majority of US Citizens are law abiding. They type of tool they have in their possession does not predispose them to violence or poaching. Certain tools may save their lives and it is irrational to believe that denying them the right to carry those tools somehow makes the USA safer.

I ask that you act rationally and do not deny me the right to carry guns in National Parks.

Thank you,

John Tycer Lewis


LINK:
http://www.ilaalerts.org/UM/T.asp?A1.2.3383.5.3150187

Department of the Interior Extends Deadline for Comments Regarding Right-to-Carry in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges Until August 8

Like a quarterback taking a knee in the fourth quarter, two of Congress's most ardent opponents of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms are trying to run out the clock on efforts to enhance your right to self-defense in our national parks and wildlife refuges.

For two months, we have been asking NRA members and gun owners to submit comments in support of allowing law-abiding citizens to carry their legally-owned firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges -- and tens of thousand of you have done so. The deadline to submit comments expired on June 30 -- or so we thought.

Rather than closing the proscribed comments period as scheduled and moving toward finalizing this federal regulation, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), succeeded in delaying the implementation of the final rule by bullying the Department of the Interior (their respective congressional subcommittees have oversight of national parks) to extend the deadline for comments an additional 30 days! In a letter to Secretary Kempthorne, Senator Akaka and Representative Grijalva asked that the public comment period be extended, citing the recent decision in the District of Columbia v. Heller.

In truth, however, now that the Supreme Court has affirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right, it is more important than ever that we move toward final resolution on this matter and extend the most basic right of self-defense to law-abiding citizens visiting national parks and refuges.

The goal of their strategy is clear. Extending the public comment period amounts to a blatant and intentional stalling tactic; further pushing back resolution on this matter, possibly until after the election, into a new Administration. This needless extension will also allow opponents of carrying guns in national parks (like the Humane Society of the U.S. and the National Parks Conservation Association) to rally their troops to express their opposition to this commonsense proposal.

While we disagree with the decision to extend the comments period on this issue, it is now more important than ever that we give the anti-gunners what they profess to want-additional comments. Gun owners, Right-to-Carry permit holders, and all Second Amendment supporters must deluge the Department of the Interior with comments in support of this proposal! The new deadline for submitting comments is August 8, 2008.

Please submit your comments on-line at:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/c ... 648066022a

Or in writing to:

Public Comments Processing
Attn: 1024-AD70
Division of Policy and Directives Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222
Arlington, VA 22203

Please act today and forward this message and request to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners!

--NRA-ILA

[TedH]

Thanks for the heads up. I just sent them a note.

[Ysabel Kid]

Here's my note:

"Being a law-abiding citizen that carrys a firearm for self-defence in these violent times makes one no more likely to shoot other law-abiding peaceable citizens, or illegally hunt wildlife, than being a woman makes one predisposed to be a whore. The "tools" are carried in both cases, but it is the conscious will to be good and do the right thing that prevails in most humans. Still, in some humans, this does not prevail, so the need to arm one's self for defense is real.

My God-given (i.e. - inherent) right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness includes defending that life and liberty and ability to pursue happiness. This inherent right does not stop at the borders of our local, state, and national parks. Please do not deny law-abiding citizens their right to carry a concealed weapon in such places."

Sincerely,

[Tycer]

Here's my note:

"Being a law-abiding citizen that carrys a firearm for self-defence in these violent times makes one no more likely to shoot other law-abiding peaceable citizens, than being a woman makes one predisposed to be a whore.

BWAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA, OMG I'm dyin' here.... You owe me a keyboard.....

[Grizz]

Regarding right-to-carry guns in National Parks:

I want the Park Service to come into line with the Second Amendment, which garantees my right to bear arms to secure my person and family's safety. The Supreme Court affirmed that this is a personal individual right. Denying me legal carry in National Parks is a direct violation of my civil rights and the Constitution. That makes the NPS the outlaw.

Please act rationally and recognize my Constitutional right to carry guns in National Parks.

[Ridgerunner]

message sent

[O.S.O.K.]

I've done this twice - I think - once for sure.

I shouldn't admit this but I don't worry about their silly rules - I just ask myself the question: "if you and your family are attacked in a park by a violent gang or individual with a gun, would you rather be able to defend them or say that you were following the rules?"

Some things are just right no matter what the bureaucrats say.

Last time I checked, God outranks them.

[Rusty]

This short sightedness has recently been righted by the state of Fla. where law abiding citizens are now allowed to carry in our state parks.

[C. Cash]

When your on that website, make sure that you periodically highlight your text and do a "Control C" to save your text. I had a very cogent letter typed out to them a couple of times re: CC in NP's, and both times I timed out just when I sent it and lost everything. Same thing happened several times when I voiced my opinion about OSHA regs that would severely limit powder, primers and ammo. Has anyone else had these problems? Keep up the good fight fellas!

[kimwcook]

I've tried both the links listed and I keep getting an error message. Maybe they've shut it off?

[Old Ironsights]

I've tried both the links listed and I keep getting an error message. Maybe they've shut it off?

Ditto. Wouldn't suprise me.

I was going to cite Heller (again) as well as Warren v. District of Columbia which held:

(the) "fundamental principle of American law that a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any individual citizen."...

The Government has a duty to uphold the Presumption of Innocence. Prohibitions imply presumption of guilt.

[Grizz]

I've tried both the links listed and I keep getting an error message. Maybe they've shut it off?

I had to enable javascript and cookies for the site, then it worked...

Grizz

[Modoc ED]

I don't see what the ruckus is. Guns have always been banned in the National Parks.

[C. Cash]

Ed,

I use to work for NPS at Sequoia National Park. Many nefarious elements come into that park, including Gang members. You're easy pickings for these folks as well as sex predators, as Law enforcement is often even farther away than in a city or town. Even if it wasn't allowed in the past, law abiding folks should be able to go in there armed. Trust me....not the place you want a thug to have complete control over you.

[Old Ironsights]

I don't see what the ruckus is. Guns have always been banned in the National Parks.

The ruckus is that guns should not be "banned" anywhere... except maybe non-food establishments serving liquor... maybe. Even there the rule should be about Drinking & Carrying not Carrying.

Like I posted above, no government agency has a duty to protect you from predation. That is established Precedent. Therefore Individuals have, by nature and Heller established precedent, the absolute Right to possess Arms for Self Defense - whether it be from Cougars or Tweakers.

The NPS does not have the moral authority and should not have the legal authority to restrict the Right to Self Defense by restricting the Means to Self Defense.

That's the ruckus.

[O.S.O.K.]

I don't see what the ruckus is. Guns have always been banned in the National Parks.

You're kidding right?

You do understand that this is all about changing the ban so that people with carry permits that are valid in the state where the parks are located can legally carry in the parks... right?

I've already stated my opinion of such bans but I do want the government to get it right.

[Modoc ED]

I don't see what the ruckus is. Guns have always been banned in the National Parks.

You're kidding right?

You do understand that this is all about changing the ban so that people with carry permits that are valid in the state where the parks are located can legally carry in the parks... right?

I've already stated my opinion of such bans but I do want the government to get it right.

Nope - not kidding at all. I don't have a CCW permit and never have although every Saturday and Sunday the Sheriff's Department for my county conducts classes for CCW permits. I could go and take the course this weekend and have a CCW permit by close of business Monday, 14 July 2008 but I'm not gonna. I just don't see the need for one as it applies to me. I've always carried whenever I've thought it necessary and always will. Besides, I always carry a short-barreled (20") 12ga pump shotgun in my truck and have ready access to it at all times -- right behind the seat in plain view where it is prfectly legal to have it.

The ban on guns in the Federal Parks has as far as I know been to prevent any type of hunting/poaching in the parks. And yep, when I go to a National Park, I've always got that short-barreled 12ga pump shotgun in my truck but not behind the seat but ocked away in my crossbed toolbox where it is legal even in a park. I can still get to it in a hurry if necessary.

Instead of everyone getting their nickers in a snit trying to carry guns in the National/State/County Parks, it might be a good idea to divert those efforts to carrying everywhere as was recognized in the SCOTUS District of Columbia vs Heller decision.

Oh, let's not just waste our time trying to get CCW permit holders the right to carry everywhere but rather open carry for everyone.