National Parks gun ban - time to go

As you all know, NPS bans firearms on it's property, which is patently ridiculous. It's time to get this ban changed. Shall issue has proven it's worth, and it's time for the Feds to come around. Here is a sample taken from letters I've just recently sent. Please feel free to cut/copy any of the material for your own use, and don't be afraid to improvise.

Dear Congressman/Senator xxxxxxxx,

I would like to congratulate you, along with President Bush
for a great victory for the G.O.P. in the 2004 elections.
Thank you for your hard work, on behalf of President Bush and
the other fine Republicans elected to the US House and
Senate. I was pleased to contribute money, and our time,
effort and especially our votes to help ensure this victory.

As you know, the National Rifle Association, the nation’s
oldest civil rights organization, endorsed President Bush in
this election. It has been well documented in the press that
the NRA membership was expected to turn out at over 90%
voting participation. Together with responsible gun owners,
members of state and local gun clubs, grass roots
organizations, internet email discussion lists and forums, we
came through for President Bush, and the good Republicans in
the US House & Senate.

Now, we need those who we supported, campaigned, and voted
for to come through for us.

For years now, the National Park Service has banned loaded
firearms, and self protection on NPS property. They have
created a terrorist’s dream of a victim rich environment
greatly degrading the park security, as well as the citizen
visitors. This ban is contained in CFR 36, Section 2.4. I
have yet to hear from any elected or appointed official
exactly how this in any way enhances safety. Consider that
the NPS own statistics indicate that an average year will
yield 10 murders, 132 rapes, 70 robberies, 3 kidnappings, 212
aggravated assaults, 488 burglaries, 3,277 larcenies, 130
vehicle thefts, and 104 arsons on National Park Service
property.

This prohibition is inconsistent with the Second Amendment of
the United States Constitution, it is not backed by statutory
law, and runs contrary to President Bush’s & the Attorney
General’s opinion that the Second Amendment “confers and
individual right†to bear arms. This prohibition must be
repealed immediately and amend the CFR 36, section 2.4 to
follow and enforce state law with respect to firearms.
Additionally, amend the CFR so that the NPS recognizes, and
honors concealed weapons/handgun permits and licenses from
ANY State or locality in the United States.

Repealing the NPS ban on firearms would in no way inhibit the
NPS from protecting valuable resources! Hunting rules and
regulations would NOT be affected by the NPS simply following
State law with regard to firearms. US Park Police and Park
Rangers are already authorized by law to enforce state law.

Here is what some Park Rangers think about how dangerous US
Parks really are:
http://www.rangerfop.com/danger03.htm

http://www.rangerfop.com/Members/News/archives/ig.pdf


Please help responsible gun owners repeal this ban. I look
forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,
xxxxxxxxxxx
(nnn)nnn-nnnn

If you don't know who your Congressman / Senators are:

http://www.house.gov/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
And, don't forget President Bush.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

There is no time like the present...

Thanks ! EVERY little bit counts! Don't forget spouses, friends, significant others...

Armored:

If you see back in the letter, I've advocated "honoring all permits" as well as "enforcing state (of the park location) law"

"This prohibition must be
repealed immediately and amend the CFR 36, section 2.4 to
**follow and enforce state law with respect to firearms. **
Additionally, amend the CFR so that the NPS recognizes, and
honors concealed weapons/handgun permits and licenses from
ANY State or locality in the United States. "

US Park Police and Park Rangers are already empowered by Federal law to enforce state law.

IOW, states as Virginia would then be Open carry. Rome wasn't built in a day, and the gun controller's fortresses won't be overrun in a day...

For the Children?

Who knows why the ban is there, the important thing is to see that it is not there. The significant issue is that as a citizen, you are on your own in a National Park, completely at the mercy of criminals. If you dare to call the police, you can look forward to rapid response... sometimes upwards of 45 minutes...

I'm not looking for "Help" or "encouraging words" from either the Park Service, or DOI, I want congress to COMPEL them to honor state laws with respect to firearms and honor CHP/CHL/CWP/CWL's.

We've attempted to reason with the interior dept. before, and got similar "encouraging words"... No more Mr. Nice guy.

I'm curious - what is an acceptable level of violence, and an acceptable number of fatalities at the hands of criminals in National Parks- people who are forbidden from protecting themselves ? How about it Secretary Norton?

Tried that already...

I emailed the site contact - ? www.ourcivilrights.org or something? a while back. It's linked on Packing.org... No response.

"enforcing state (of the park location) law"

What does state law say, with respect to carrying a firearm in Alaska and Vermont?

Thanks for the heads up

You're right, the last thing we want them to do is to put some limiting feature in requiring us to unload and secure every couple of miles. Again this is why I'm trying to stress honoring state law. I'd love to know exactly how carrying a loaded firearm AFFECTS interstate commere...