Letter in the local paper

[2Lman]

I read this letter to the editor in the Bangor Daily News today...

Loaded guns in Acadia

As a resident abutter to Acadia National Park, I call upon Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to justify his proposed amendment to the Acadia National Park Improvement Act which would allow people to carry loaded firearms in our park. Current regulations do not ban firearms in the park; they merely require such weapons to be unloaded and not readily accessible. Is the senator afraid someone may be attacked by a rabid raccoon or a peevish porcupine? If so, our well-trained rangers are fully equipped with loaded sidearms to deal with such emergencies.

Many people come to our national parks to escape the noise, peril and bloodshed of our city streets. Allowing visitors to carry loaded guns would largely defeat the public’s desire for peace and tranquility. It would also vastly complicate the already difficult task of controlling game poachers.

The Second Amendment says nothing about ammunition, therefore banning loaded firearms in certain sensitive locations cannot reasonably be said to contravene that amendment. It seems to me the senator is saying that any citizen should be allowed to carry a loaded gun anywhere she or he pleases. Does he believe that banning such weapons from commercial air flights and our public schools violates the Constitution?

I wrote a response this morning, and actually received an email back from the editor asking me to edit to 300 words. I was surprised, as the paper has become pretty liberal lately (I know... not all liberals are anti...)

I have my 300 word response done, and sent in. I am hoping that it will see publication. If it does within the next couple of days, I will post it. I don't want to until then, as I don't want them to not publish it due to the fact that it appeared on an internet forum.

Two of the arguments I didn't even get to in the letter that are absurd. The quiet and tranquility argument (what is everyone going to have fun shooting guns in the air?) and the "you can carry them as long as you don't have them loaded and that should be fine" argument. They were both so insane I didn't think that they needed a response.

 

[RancidSumo]

That was very poorly written and didn't make any since.

that banning such weapons from commercial air flights and our public schools violates the Constitution?

Yes, it does.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

A point I haven't seen in all the discussion over the proposed change is this: How many firearms related deaths occured in National Parks before the present regulation was enacted? What was, if there was, the precipitating event that caused the present regulation?

I suspect that the answers are damn few and none, respectively.

900F

 

[Feud]

Is the senator afraid someone may be attacked by a rabid raccoon or a peevish porcupine? If so, our well-trained rangers are fully equipped with loaded sidearms to deal with such emergencies.

"Hold on there Mr. Rabid Raccoon attacking me whilst I fetch the Park Ranger, that I may properly defend myself!"

"Chitter, chitter, growl." (Raccoon for, "oh I"m sorry, what was I thinking!?!")

The Second Amendment says nothing about ammunition, therefore banning loaded firearms in certain sensitive locations cannot reasonably be said to contravene that amendment.

Well, the first amendment doesn't say anything about ink, so the banning of ink must be ok...

 

[SJG26]

I'll up the anty.......................

As a resident of PA tourist that will visit Acadia(and surrounding area)for a week in August..................

I am presently preparing paperwork to obtain a State of Maine non-resident CCW permit/LTCF or whatever the term is there.

$60 for a permit valid only in Maine (my PA and Utah permits are not). Well worth the peace of mind that I will be more able to protect my family should the need arise. Perhaps not while kayaking, but I will carry every waking moment, in the towns, the woods---and yes---even in Acadia National Park [concealed means concealed]

 

[Standing Wolf]

The Second Amendment says nothing about ammunition, therefore banning loaded firearms in certain sensitive locations cannot reasonably be said to contravene that amendment.

I herewith nominate that statement for the Illogical Strrrrrrrrrretch of the Month Award.

 

[bogie]

Guys, keep 'em short and simple. 300 words may not seem like a lot, but if you avoid the flowery speech, you can say quite a lot in a concise and succinct piece.

And that's a LOT more likely to get published.

 

[TT]

Is that correct usage of 'abutter'?

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

What's that old saw? "I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy." Yeah, that's it!

ECS

 

[tinygnat219]

2Lman,

wrote a response this morning, and actually received an email back from the editor asking me to edit to 300 words. I was surprised, as the paper has become pretty liberal lately (I know... not all liberals are anti...)

If you get this far, they will publish it. Most have policies on the size of the letters they can publish.

I have my 300 word response done, and sent in. I am hoping that it will see publication. If it does within the next couple of days, I will post it. I don't want to until then, as I don't want them to not publish it due to the fact that it appeared on an internet forum.

NICE! Please post when it does!

 

[Brian Dale]

It seems to me the senator is saying that any citizen should be allowed to carry a loaded gun anywhere she or he pleases.

Exactly.

Of course, what the Senator should be saying is that the government ought not to violate a person's right to do so. Fundamental human rights are not granted by governments. They're either protected or violated.

 

[BlackBearME]

Holy geez. I just got my CCW in December, and I vacation every other year in Acadia. This year wasn't on the rotation, but I didn't even think about the potential impact of going there with my gun.

This is just ridiculous. I thought people in Maine were more level headed? Or at least apathetic. *sigh* Glad I don't get the Bangor Daily News, or I'd be rather upset. Nah, I'm still upset.

By all means, please post your response if it gets printed.

 

[Brian Dale]

I thought people in Maine were more level headed?

National Park; Federal law. It isn't up to Mainers, no matter how level headed most of them may be.

The letter's author: pfaugh...they're everywhere, in varying numbers.

 

[BlackBearME]

Oh, yeah, I'm aware of the effect on the attitude of Mainers (though up he-ah we call 'em Mainahs) on Federal laws. Trust me, there's plenty I'd be changing if I could by sheer Mainah will alone. I was mostly referring to the auther of the letter. I have to say that (thankfully) I have yet to run into this sort of extreme anti-gun prejudice around here. The most I usually get is "Well, I don't really like guns" and that's all, ever.

Of course, it's really easy to write a letter, and much harder to confront someone in person. I wonder if the author of that letter would discuss this as readily face to face. .......now I wonder if everyone who's ever let the issue of "I don't like guns" drop has been lying to me. Are you lying to me? *reaches out and strokes Faraday cage*

 

[strat81]

The Second Amendment says nothing about ammunition, therefore banning loaded firearms in certain sensitive locations cannot reasonably be said to contravene that amendment.

The First Amendment doesn't mention television, radio, or the Internet.

Scream it from the rooftops, print it in books and newspapers, but do NOT transmit it electronically!

 

[Rokyudai]

Many people come to our national parks to escape the noise, peril and bloodshed of our city streets. Allowing visitors to carry loaded guns would largely defeat the public’s desire for peace and tranquility. It would also vastly complicate the already difficult task of controlling game poachers.

I think Tom Gresham brought this letter up in his March 9th radio show...you gotta love that mental picture of a hand-wringing, anti preaching about escaping the bloodshed of their city streets.

-and-
How exactly would allowing CC complicate the task of controlling poaching?

 

[2Lman]

Letter in the paper

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