Government change may allow loaded weapons in national parks
Loaded weapons are currently not allowed in National Parks -it's currently a crime. This regulation is one of the only ways that Rangers can prosecute wildlife poachers on Federal land.
Under pressure from the NRA, the Department of Interior is considering a change that would allow your fellow campers to pack a concealed, loaded weapon. This is a bit frightening to me as a camper and hiker, and it also brings up concerns about the safety of animals in the parks. It could make people more bold about approaching bears and other potentially dangerous animals, and then shoot them if they got too close. And what if your dog startles someone on the trail?
The public comment period for this proposed change goes until the end of June. So if you have something to say, say it soon.
The Humane Society web site has a form and phone numbers to call to let our legislators know how we feel about this topic. See Wildlife Abuse Campaign for more information.
Under pressure from the NRA, the Department of Interior is considering a change that would allow your fellow campers to pack a concealed, loaded weapon. This is a bit frightening to me as a camper and hiker, and it also brings up concerns about the safety of animals in the parks. It could make people more bold about approaching bears and other potentially dangerous animals, and then shoot them if they got too close. And what if your dog startles someone on the trail?
The public comment period for this proposed change goes until the end of June. So if you have something to say, say it soon.
The Humane Society web site has a form and phone numbers to call to let our legislators know how we feel about this topic. See Wildlife Abuse Campaign for more information.
Comment
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Comment by Travis Grubbs on June 25, 2008 at 4:48pm -
Amy:
I can understand your concerns. I think that at least part of the support for this initiative is due to a horrific event that occurred at a State / National Park in late December 2007 in North Georgia. A young woman drove her car to the park for a hike with her dog. A day or two later the dog was found looking for food in a shopping center several miles away. A sixty something year old male was found trying to use one of her credit cards. He eventually led the police to her body. She had been raped, murdered, and then decapitated. This man was then tied to the murder of an elderly couple camping in a park in Florida. Since the murderer agreed to reveal the location of the woman's body, he was spared the death penalty.
I recall reading where the woman was un-armed, but he was not. I don't know what it is about criminals, but they don't seem to obey the laws that get in their way. There were a lot of questions and discussion in the State press as to what the young woman could done to protect herself. One option would have been to have stayed home and not exercise her freedom to hike in the park. I wish she had been allowed to have carried a gun and had blown the man's head off.
I believe that this initiative is based on one being able to protect themselves from people, and not wildlife. As I stated earlier, I understand your concerns. I don't want people poaching and killing protected wildlife. As a matter of disclosure, I am a hunter and a member of the NRA.
© 2010 Created by Amy
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