Rep. Jim Cooper's Reply to S.22 Bill (Park carry)

[Guest stovepipe]

Dear Sir:

Thank you for writing to me about legislation involving loaded guns in national parks.

While I support gun rights, we must not endanger the public's safety or harm wildlife within our national parks. Our nation's parks are some of our greatest treasures, and we must be careful to protect these precious resources - both as sanctuaries for wildlife and for ourselves. I appreciate your thoughts on S.22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. I will certainly thoughts in mind when considering future legislation.

Thank you again for writing. I look forward to hearing from you again in the future.

Sincerely,

Jim Cooper

Member of Congress

[Guest SouthernSaltine]

So I will harm wildlife and endanger public saftey in the park if I carry, but the criminal that wants to rob, rape, and/or harm my family is fine, because carry laws do not affect him in parks!

Edited March 17, 2009 by SouthernSaltine

[Volzfan]

It's past time for Jim Cooper to be a private citizen again.

[Tim Nunan]

This is the same "gun support" he spouted when he was the representative for the 4th District (before Van Hillary defeated him).

[Guest GhostHunter]

It's past time for Jim Cooper to be a private citizen again.

Amen!

[petro]

Amen +1

[Guest justme]

Ok, so S 22 is news to me. Considering that Bush removed the restriction of firearms possession in the national parks and federally controlled WMAs--and amazingly enough the Obama Adm. has said that they will defend the measure in court, could someone explain to me how S 22 will prohibit the people from carrying in the NPS?

[Guest SouthernSaltine]

It's past time for Jim Cooper to be a private citizen again.

GOT THAT RIGHT!

[Guest SUNTZU]

Dear Sir:

Thank you for writing to me about legislation involving loaded guns in national parks.

While I support gun rights, we must not endanger the public's safety or harm wildlife within our national parks. Our nation's parks are some of our greatest treasures, and we must be careful to protect these precious resources - both as sanctuaries for wildlife and for ourselves. I appreciate your thoughts on S.22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. I will certainly thoughts in mind when considering future legislation. (?)

Thank you again for writing. I look forward to hearing from you again in the future.

Sincerely,

Jim Cooper

Member of Congress

Try not to do a line before you write responses to letters.

[Guest stovepipe]

Justme, He was responding to an email inspired from the GOA e-mail below... -Stove

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert

8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151

Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408

http://www.gunowners.org

Monday, March 16, 2009

Do you agree with people like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who treat

the Second Amendment as if it were written only to protect your ability

to go hunting and target shooting?

Or do you agree with Gun Owners of America, George Washington and Thomas

Jefferson, who believe that the Second Amendment protects a pre-existing

fundamental right that is essential to the preservation of liberty?

Well, a whole lot of people in Congress are claiming to protect your

Second Amendment rights, but all they're really doing is protecting your

hunting season.

We're talking about the Omnibus Public Lands Act. You helped to defeat

this bill last week in the House, but Congressional leaders have vowed

to bring it up again soon.

S. 22 is an enormous package of over 190 bills lumped together with a

price tag of $10 billion. The bill will greatly expand the amount of

land controlled by the National Park Service, thus spreading the

agency's unconstitutional gun regulations to more areas.

Fear of upsetting gun owners -- who helped elect many members of

Congress from both parties -- kept this bill off the floor for several

weeks.

Then, in a meeting last Tuesday, not held in an open committee hearing

but behind closed doors, House leaders brokered a deal with some

supposedly pro-gun Democrats.

They said they were concerned about your gun rights. They said they

were going to "fix" the bill.

But they did not address the NPS anti-gun regulations that prohibit

carrying a firearm for self defense without a government issued

concealed carry permit.

What did they do? They added language to the bill to say you can still

go hunting.

That's right. Many Congressmen claimed to be protecting the Second

Amendment, when all they were really doing was thumbing their noses at

self defense.

Here is the entire "pro-gun" amendment that was considered in

the House.

Judge for yourself if this really protects your Second Amendment rights:

"Nothing in this Title shall be construed as affecting the authority,

jurisdiction, or responsibility of the several States to manage,

control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under State law or

regulations, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, trapping, and

recreational shooting. Nothing in this Title shall be construed as

limiting access for hunting, fishing, trapping, or recreational

shooting."

They may as well have called it the "Elmer Fudd Protection Act."

A lot of people who voted for this bill campaigned for office as

champions of gun rights. They said "Send me to Washington; I'll fight

for the Second Amendment." And this is what we get? Pathetic.

But let's be clear. The issue is not just about the NPS gun

restrictions, as bad as they are. And whether or not you personally use

federal land is not the point.

What is important is the disdain with which legislators hold your Second

Amendment rights.

It is imperative that you speak up on this issue. The outcome of this

battle will be a preview of what we can expect for the next two years.

Will your gun rights be comprised away little by little? Or will we

stand together and hold legislators accountable to their campaign

promises to uphold the Second Amendment?

This week there may be several votes in both the Senate and House on the

Omnibus Land bill.

Congressional leaders plan to act quickly in an attempt to ram this down

the throat of the American people without a fair and open process. They

desperately want to avoid any amendment that would truly protect your

gun rights.

Congress hopes to leave the gun ban in place, and enlarge the areas

affected by it. For example, the bill expands existing park land,

creates new national trails that will fall under the gun restrictions,

and authorizes the federal government to buy more land adjacent to

national parks and trails.

House and Senate leaders plan to move on this bill rapidly, although

they are ambiguous about the process.

But our message to Congress is simple: Stop playing around with our

Second Amendment rights!

We don't care about the process. We care about the Second Amendment.

And we mean ALL of the Second Amendment, not just hunting.

Tell Congress you expect them to protect your right to keep and bear

arms without compromising. Please take a few seconds and send the

pre-written message below.

When you're done, become a force multiplier. Send this alert to a few

friends.

It is important that you take this action because right now GOA is the

only gun rights organization speaking out for ALL of your Second

Amendment rights.

We've all forwarded jokes or funny pictures to our friends. How about

forwarding a message to help protect our God-ordained constitutionally

protected right to keep and bear arms?

And please do not think your voice won't be heard. Remember, this bill

failed to pass the House by just two votes last week because people like

you took action.

Congressmen need to know that their votes in the coming days will impact

YOUR vote next year. But if they don't hear from you and they think

you're not looking, many will treat your rights with contempt.

We're not alone in this battle. In the Senate, pro-gun champions such

as Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint are prepared to lead the fight

against this bill.

In the House, Reps. Paul Broun, Rob Bishop and Doc Hastings are among

those fighting hard for your gun rights.

In fact, there are many in Congress willing to stand up for the Second

Amendment, but they are repeatedly squashed by the anti-gun leadership

or undermined by pro-gun compromisers. Pro-gun Congressmen who want to

repeal the gun ban are being told, in effect, to "Shut up and

vote!"

Friends, we know we've asked for a lot of action from you already this

year.

Unfortunately, that is not going to stop. But we will all draw the line

at some point. Let's work together and do it now.

Thank you for working with Gun Owners of America. Our effectiveness in

Washington depends on your activism. PLEASE try to get your pro-gun

friends and family involved. Now more than ever, every voice is

critical.

ACTION: Please use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at

http://gunowners.org/activism.htm to tell your Representative and

Senators to reject the lands bill (S. 22) unless your Second Amendment

rights are protected. Per usual, a pre-written letter is provided for

your convenience.

----- Pre-written message -----

The Omnibus Public Land Act of 2009 is expected to come to the floor

soon.

I urge you to oppose this bill if, as expected, the leadership does not

allow an amendment to repeal the anti-gun regulations of the National

Park Service.

Recent changes made by the Interior Department only allow persons with a

concealed carry permit to possess a self-defense firearm on NPS land.

Non-permit holders are still prohibited from carrying a firearm for

their protection.

And please don't be fooled by a supposedly pro-gun amendment to

"fix"

the bill that was brought up last week during the House debate on S. 22.

That language only modestly protects hunting and recreational shooting.

While protecting the rights of sportsmen is important, the Second

Amendment is NOT about hunting rights. I am more concerned about my

ability to defend my life, and the lives of my loved ones, than I am

about plinking cans.

Congressional leaders have been ambiguous about how this legislation

will come to the floor, but my message to you is clear: protect ALL of

my Second Amendment rights.

Please OPPOSE final passage on any land bill that does not repeal the

NPS gun ban.

Sincerely,

[Guest stovepipe]

Duplicate reply deleted....

Edited March 18, 2009 by stovepipe

[Guest jackdog]

If I post what's on my mind I will be in trouble here so I really won't bother.

[mcurrier]

It's past time for Jim Cooper to be a private citizen again.

Yes it is! I'm tired of that sack of misrepresenting me in D.C.

[Guest stovepipe]

From Corker:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for taking time to contact my office to share your thoughts about S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

As you may know, the Senate will be considering the Omnibus Public Lands Bill again this week. While I previously supported final passage of this legislation, I do believe we should have an open debate and had the chance to consider issues such as guns in national parks. The input provided in your letter will certainly be helpful to my staff and me as the Senate considers this legislation once again.

Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,

Bob Corker

United States Senator

[Guest SUNTZU]

From Corker:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for taking time to contact my office to share your thoughts about S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

As you may know, the Senate will be considering the Omnibus Public Lands Bill again this week. While I previously supported final passage of this legislation, I am waiting to see what they offer me to sell out.

Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,

Bob Corker

United States Senator

Fixed that for you, SINator.