Author Topic: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks  (Read 2566 times)

geronimotwo

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New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« on: December 05, 2008, 07:30:15 PM »
did anyone else see this?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20081205/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_guns_national_parks

WASHINGTON – People will now be able to carry concealed firearms in some national parks and wildlife refuges.

An Interior Department rule issued Friday allows an individual to carry a loaded weapon in 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 loaded firearms in parks.

The rule overturns a Reagan-era regulation that has restricted loaded guns in parks and wildlife refuges. The previous regulations 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.

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 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.


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Tim L

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2008, 07:49:48 PM »
Had not seen it, but that's very good news!  A step in the right direction.

Tim

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2008, 08:00:01 PM »
Had not seen it, but that's very good news!  A step in the right direction.

Tim

Well a step in the right direction, I wonder about Yosemite, it is legal to carry at your campsite in CA nat forest sans permit (it is considered your "home" )
so, I hope I'll be able to carry in Yosemite.
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Unisaw

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2008, 09:32:51 PM »
Gunsmith, if you read what the DOI published, they specifically ruled out the "tent becomes your home" theory.
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280plus

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2008, 10:31:06 PM »
Quote
This regulation will put visitors, employees and precious resources of the National Park System at risk.
At risk of what? Being able to defend themselves? This type of thinking boggles the mind.  =|
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gunsmith

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2008, 04:48:14 AM »
Gunsmith, if you read what the DOI published, they specifically ruled out the "tent becomes your home" theory.

Then maybe a new lawsuit is needed, forcing CA to recognize out of State permits.
Politicians and bureaucrats are considered productive if they swarm the populace like a plague of locust, devouring all substance in their path and leaving a swath of destruction like a firestorm. The technical term is "bipartisanship".
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geronimotwo

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2008, 08:28:52 AM »
Then maybe a new lawsuit is needed, forcing CA to recognize out of State permits.

based on the assumption that "all men are created equal" (regardless of state residency), and the scotus ruling that we all have the individual right to arms, i don't see how anyone can argue that because you are not a state resident that you may not carry.

given how our constitution is written, why are we always fighting the gov to remove unconstitutional laws, when it should their duty to prove a law fits within constitutional bounderies before it is enacted?
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MicroBalrog

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2008, 08:39:28 AM »
You could try and carry openly?

http://opencarry.org/ca.html
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Gowen

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2008, 09:41:08 AM »
My only question is....  How long till obama changes that?  January 22?
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Waitone

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2008, 03:57:44 PM »
One question screams to be asked.  "Why now?"  Bush has only had 8 years to make it happen and now that he is packing up his socks, he acts.
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DJJ

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2008, 04:25:28 PM »
Part of it, they claim, is the "lengthy rule-making process". For the same reason, they say it will take a long time to change it back. But of course, that means it's going to be.

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2008, 04:33:20 PM »
Quote
Part of it, they claim, is the "lengthy rule-making process".

That's actually true. We just finished one for my office that we're supposed to do every 5 years. The one we just finished was for 2002. Because they require public comment and a host of other things, smart lobbyists can drag one of these out pretty dang long if they know the in's and out's. Whether the President has an executive loophole to bypass the process or not is another matter. The key will be getting it into the Federal Register post haste.
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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2008, 05:59:31 PM »
Part of why it happened at all was due to 51 Senators and, IIRC, a pile of Governors requesting it.

I am lazy, but it might be worth looking at which Sen's signed on and see how many are left.

Obama is not quite so likely to buck a bipartisan Senatorial request.
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Brad Johnson

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Re: New rule eases ban on firearms in national parks
« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2008, 06:01:48 PM »
One question screams to be asked.  "Why now?"  Bush has only had 8 years to make it happen and now that he is packing up his socks, he acts.

Dept of Interior, not Executive Branch.

Brad
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