S. 2483 and the Coburn Amendment: CCW in National Parks

[Fang]

I subscribe to the Brady email list for precisely this reason:



MORE GUNS IN NATIONAL PARKS PUTS VISITORS AT RISK
Tell Your U.S. Senators to Protect Our National Parks: Oppose the Coburn Amendment

Dear Fang,

Keep Parks SafeA proposal facing action by the U.S. Senate would force National Park and National Wildlife Refuge managers to allow more loaded, hidden handguns in America's National Parks and Wildlife Refuges, endangering the public as well as wildlife.

Why are we putting hikers, campers, and families at risk by introducing loaded, hidden handguns into our National Parks? This proposal is a bad idea that the Senate should reject.

PLEASE CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS TODAY!
Tell Them "More Guns in National Parks Puts Visitors at Risk: Oppose the Coburn Amendment to S. 2483"
Call (202) 224-3121 for the Capitol Switchboard
Click Here to Look Up Your Senators' Direct Numbers

Under current federal law, firearm possession and transportation in our National Parks is carefully regulated. But Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, an ally of the gun lobby, plans on offering an amendment to a broader bill on public lands issues that would weaken the reasonable gun restrictions on federal lands adopted in 1982 by the Reagan Administration.

Given the heightened security risks in the post-9/11 world, as well as contemporary concerns about poaching on federal lands, we find the Reagan Administration regulation to be both necessary and appropriate.

Tell your Senators to stand with the Association of National Park Rangers, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, and the U.S. Park Ranger Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, who recently stated: "Senator Coburn’s amendment will make poaching in parks even more prevalent than it already is, thus reducing the opportunity for children, families, and Americans from all walks of life to easily view wildlife that so many parks provide."

Don't allow Senator Coburn to change federal law to expand the carrying of loaded guns in our National Parks!

Here's What You Can Do Today:

1. CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS.
Tell them to OPPOSE the Coburn Amendment to S. 2483: We don't want more people carrying loaded, hidden guns in our National Parks!
Call (202) 224-3121 for the Capitol Switchboard
Click Here to Look Up Your Senators' Direct Numbers (http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BCPSenatelookup&autologin=true)

2. EMAIL YOUR SENATORS.
If you can't call, or in addition, send an email to your Senators urging them to do the right thing on this important issue. Click here to send an email to both of your Senators.

3. SPREAD THE WORD.
Our Senators need to hear from as many of us as possible. Please click here to forward this email to friends and family.


After laughing myself silly over the hysterical hand-wringing, I proceeded to dance a silly jig of joy: We've got another shot at having the law changed so that National Parks follow the same standards as National Forests with respect to firearms; i.e. they would be dependent on state CCW law.

Thanks to the Brady Bunch's email, I now have complete contact information for my senators, the name of the bill, and the particular amendment to recommend.

And now so do you. Don't let all the effort the Bradys put into this emailing go to waste: Call your senators and get them behind the Coburn amendment.

[Clinotus]

Sweet.


Fairfax, Va. - At the request of the Bush Administration and 51 members of the United States Senate led by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibition of firearms on agency land will be revised in the following weeks. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is leading the effort to amend the existing policy regarding the carrying and transportation of firearms in National Parks and wildlife refuges.

“Law-abiding citizens should not be prohibited from protecting themselves and their families while enjoying America’s National Parks and wildlife refuges,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “Under this proposal, federal parks and wildlife refuges will mirror the state firearm laws for state parks. This is an important step in the right direction.”

These new regulations, when finalized, will provide uniformity across our nation’s federal lands and put an end to the patchwork of regulations that governed different lands managed by different federal agencies. In the past, only Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service lands allowed the carrying of firearms, while National Park lands did not.

The current regulations on possession, carry or transportation of loaded or uncased firearms in national parks were proposed in 1982 and finalized in 1983. Similar restrictions apply in national wildlife refuges. The NRA believes it is time to amend those regulations to reflect the changed legal situation with respect to state laws on carrying firearms.

The effect of these now-outdated regulations on people who carry firearms for self-protection was far from the forefront at the time these regulations were adopted. As of the end of 1982, only six states routinely allowed citizens to carry handguns for self-defense. Currently, 48 states have a process for issuance of licenses or permits to allow law-abiding citizens to legally carry firearms for self-defense.

The move for regulatory change by the Administration will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners who wish to transport and carry firearms for lawful purposes in most National Park lands and will make the laws consistent with state law where these lands are located. Fifty-one U.S. Senators from both parties sent a letter to the Department of Interior late last year supporting the move to render state firearms laws applicable to National Park lands.

“These changes will respect the Second Amendment rights of honest citizens, and we look forward to the issuance of a final rule this year,” concluded Cox.



Press Release (http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?ID=10651)