Interior Dept to Allow Carry in National Parks

Great success, though it's far from a complete victory.

I think this is awesome, but you can rest assured Obama will work to overturn this rule change, even if it does take a year. The Brady's are already crying about it on their homepage, they imply that ALL people who carry guns are "dangerous".

I'll bet you can still expect to get a mouthfull from the park rangers as well.

This is fantastic news for the United States of America.

This is a major accomplishment for those who have fought for this for years, and much of the momentum behind this can be credited to members of this forum.


I think it's important to note that the original law, which banned firearms from national parks, was enacted by the Reagan Administration.

This is important to me, because I think that people need to remember and understand that the RTKBA is not just a Republican ideal.

1) Appointed gun friendly Supreme Court Justices that gave us Heller. DC residents can now own guns again.

2) Gun manufacturers are no longer being sued out of existence.

3) Expiration of the AWB.

4) No new gun control laws or executive orders.

GWB is probably the most pro-2nd Amendment president of my lifetime.

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bush said that if another one made it too his desk he would sign it...

I think getting to have a weapon in nat'l parks is a good thing, I just hope some one does not mess it up.

All it takes is 1 idiot for them to pull this.

Good job NRA!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120501991.html

There's apparently some fine print:

Interior spokesman Paolino said the rule would not affect a ban on guns in federal buildings. Guns will still be prohibited in national icons such as Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty, he said. Guns also will be banned in visitor centers and other buildings at national parks.

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Quote:
I think it's important to note that the original law, which banned firearms from national parks, was enacted by the Reagan Administration.

This is important to me, because I think that people need to remember and understand that the RTKBA is not just a Republican ideal.
__________________

That is correct.Under Reagan DOI Secretary James Watt,this rule went into effect in 1983.
That's 25 years under the watch of 3 Republican Presidents and of course Slick Willy.
I'll take this to the bank.This change is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Anyone who wishes to disagree ,our esteemed Nevada Associate Valkman,will be more than happy I believe ,to handle any reasonable wagers.


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bush said that if another one made it too his desk he would sign it..

Right. With Tom Delay whipping the House that had a 1 in a million chance of happening.Pure politics by G.W. as we discussed last night.
Lets get happy.

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Agreed, but concealed carry was not as big an issue back then either. Only in the past decade and a half has CC grown in law and public support.

As someone posted earlier, we ought to be writing some thank you notes. Even if it is just a quick e-mail to all your reps and sens (even state level) just acknowledging your support of the new ruling.

I have only sent complaining letters in the past. Time for that to change.

IF your congressman was on that list

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OK, I may be a dummy, but I have looked high and low for this list. Any ideas on where to find it? I'll be interested to see what the breakdown is along party lines.

OK, techincally, your generic "congressman" won't be on the list. It was a purely senatorial action. The DOI letter with the signers is here:

http://www.doi.gov/issues/response_to_senators.html

There is one entry with 47 on it, and another with an additional four. Needless to say, McCain is there, Obama is not. It's is prety much on party lines, but a few dems are there too, on geographical lines. It's heavy with western and southern Senators, light elsewhere. Needless to say, neither of my useless WA senators are on it. We are shopping for land in Idaho, by the way. (really).

FYI, there is a more active and informative thread on the nuances of the rule in the "legal" section, where it more properly belongs.

Thanks Oro.

Needless to say, neither of my useless WA senators are on it.

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Both of my CT senators [Dodd (D), Lieberman (I)] were missing as well. No big surprise there....

There is a list on this also;
http://www.doi.gov/issues/Final Rule.pdf
Its on Page 3
Page 8 has an interesting read also.

great news and restoration of our rights.

As far as Bush and our gun rights go there really isn't much else he had the ability to do besides allow chinese ammo and stuff to be imported. I don't think he would have had enough political capital to get NFA or GCA of 68 overturned.

Interior spokesman Paolino said the rule would not affect a ban on guns in federal buildings. Guns will still be prohibited in national icons such as Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty, he said. Guns also will be banned in visitor centers and other buildings at national parks.

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You know, if these area are true gun-free zones with armed security like a courtroom or airport, I don't think I can raise a serious objection. Where gun free zones are objectionable is where they are gun-free zones only for the law-abiding and not really enforced - there they are just free-fire zones for criminals. I think that is what all of us most object to.

DOI announced the rule change today and will publish the new regulations in the Federal Register. The new regulations allow right-to-carry permit holders to exercise their Second Amendment rights on national park and wildlife refuges in those states that recognize such permits.

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Californian's Screwed again. CA doesn't recognize ANY state's permits and if i'm reading correctly NOT allow CCW even if you carry an out-of-state permit because they don't recognize them.

What can we do here?

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What has bush done for us?

Alito + Roberts = Heller

These guys didn't just fall out of the sky!

Secretary of the Interior = Dirk Kempthorne

Who do you think appointed him? (and every other cabinent Secretary?)

Do you really think this rule change would have made the agenda if the Secretary of the Interior opposed it?

Not to mention letting the AWB die and doing nothing about it.

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+1 - you beat me to it!

I am so SICK of the phrase "common sense" repeated like a mantra by the antis. Say it enough it becomes true? It is just so Orwellian double speak.

Just another reason I need to get my carry permit. I plan on doing a lot of camping and hiking.

Question to backpackers and especially for Georgia folks. I don't really see anywhere to carry a pistol concealed when wearing a full backpack. The waist band covers the belt. I thought you could rig it attached to the pack so you could reach behind but that doesn't work.

To me it seems the most convenient would be a drop leg holster or a chest rig but that isn't concealed. Can I carry open with a permit? That is more the Georgia specific question.

rocinante- google the safepacker... http://store.thewilderness.com/index.php?cPath=51

Exactly the kinda thing you are looking for. Put it on your kidney belt and it just looks like another random part of your pack. Hidden in plane sight. Then again those that know it sticks out like an old guy with a fanny pack or the guy that seems to be wearing a fishing vest for no apparent reason.

-Tsi

JOHNNY DOLLAR - "Seriously, having lived in California for 6 years(S.F.and Castro Valley)and loving the state as much as I do,the pendulum is going to swing back and sanity will again prevail."

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J.D., I lived in Los Angeles for 35 years and was at times, involved in political issues both local and State. I watched the incessant onslaught against freedom and the institution of the welfare state during that time, through the ideology of "progressive liberalism." It continues unabated, today.

You are far, far more optimistic than I.

L.W.

Just to be sure, it looks like from a quick reading of this that if the State the National Park is in restricts firearms in State Parks, then carry in the National Park will not be legal?

From a quick look at handgunlaw, a LOT of states don't allow carry in state parks.

This is great, my wife and I like to walk the trails in Everglades National Park.
Now I won't feel naked. I was praying this would pass.

I have seen a number of posters questioning the concealed carry and open carry part of the new National Parks regulation. The wording is just a bit ambiguous, making it sound like whatever the state in question allows, is OK in the NP. I don't think OC is intended to be allowed at all, unfortunately. The wording states "concealed carry, with a permit", but makes no allusion to OC at any point. I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion on the subject, as with all new laws and regulations. The big mistake, in my view, is the dependence on the local state firearm restrictions, or lack thereof, especially where a NP may straddle two state lines (or more, if there is such a place). Also the restriction on CCW in the administrative buildings of NP or FW areas, as some restrict the access to the park by way of entering those buildings. Now we need to start work on upgrading and improving the newly established regulations.
sailortoo

Not too worried. My permit is honored in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, all the states Yellowstone sits within. I can now carry when I'm doing deep camping in Zion, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, etc.

It will be in the open.