Carry in the National Parks

[Marswolf]

The Virginia Civil Defense League has been working to get concealed carry permitted in the National Parks for several years. Their Senator Allen as, I think, the last legislation he submitted before their new senator took office was an act to permit carry in the Parks.

Personally, I think the leader of the VCDL is a jerk and not nearly as politically astute as he thinks he is, but he was able to finally get an answer back from the NPS about carry in the Parks.

NO!!!!!

As Tennessee has a National Park, I though it appropriate to post a link to the asinine response from the la-la land of the Park Service honchos:

http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/NPS_Denial_of_VCDL_PRM.pdf

[waynesan]

Thanks Marswolf. This is something I have been particularly interested in for some time. Nothing makes me more angry in self defense issues than to be driving along and have to stop and "lock up" my weapon because of some imaginary line on a map that says beyond here you cannot defend yourself or your family if the need arises.

It is obvious from reading the letter you linked to that whoever authored the letter has absolutely no idea of what personal responsibility in the matter of armed self defense entailes.

My answers to her reasons to not allow weapons in National Parks.

"Parks are safe places" Huhhhh? Then she says "some crime does occur on NPS managed lands". This does not compute. The fact of the matter is we never knows when a crime is going to be commited against us or we would not be there when the crime is commited. I wouldn't.

"Right to carry laws do not reduce crime". Every educated member of the right to carry community knows the falsity of that statement. But I would ask her where is the evidence that "right to carry laws" cause crime. Go ahead Karen Taylor-Goodrich, show me your evidence.

"Firearms already may be transported in a vehicle through any park area." Of course they must be made "inoperable" and "stored in such a manner as to prevent their ready use". Just what you want when facing a life or death situation: "Honey, find the bullets while I get in the trunk and unlock the gun lockbox!!! WHERE'S THE KEY!!??

"Right to carry laws do not protect visitors from wildlife". According to her, "most weapons carried for protection from wildlife are not adequate for that purpose". Granted. Most aren't. So what??? If I was the victim of an attacking animal I would want the best possible weapon to use for my defense ( .50 cal machine gun ) but I would be glad to use my Ruger P44 and hope for the best. If a Park Ranger is charged by an angry bear does he throw is handgun away and cry "Its too little, Its too little!!! It can't stop the bear!!! No, he would fire away and pray that at least this time his bullet would find the mark.

These government pansies irk the pitooey out of me.

[waynesan]

I got this update from VCDL's website. It appears that the letter sent to them (saying NO to concealed carry) linked by Marswolf has made some higher ups pretty mad. And it also sounds like it is not a dead issue. I sent emails to Corker, Alexander, Congressman Davis, and the Secretary of the Interior by following the instructions listed below. It may or may not help but I did let them know how I felt. If carrying in National Parks is something you would like to see made legal, I would encourage you to make the contacts as well.

**URGENT** **URGENT** **URGENT**

VCDL has just learned from our sources on Capitol Hill that the

Department of the Interior (DOI) is **livid** over the National Park

Service's (NPS) asinine rejection letter sent to VCDL concerning

VCDL's Petition for Rule Making!

(http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/NPS_Denial_of_VCDL_PRM.pdf)

That petition would allow a law-abiding citizen to carry a handgun

for self-defense in a National Park if the state in which the park is

located allows such carry.

Apparently the National Park Service DID NOT CLEAR that rejection

letter with their parent - the Department of the Interior!

The Department of Interior had been telling VCDL and key

Congressional members that DOI would seriously consider VCDL's

petition.

The ensuing NPS rejection letter made DOI look like fools and liars.

DOI doesn't like that at all, and I don't blame them.

The word that I am hearing is that the Department of the Interior is

investigating how to OVERTURN that rejection letter and soon!!!

We have an incredible opportunity to save TWO years of work and pull

off a victory for all gun owners! But we must make our voices heard

LOUD AND CLEAR.

I need all of you to do the following FOUR things NOW and URGENTLY no

matter where you live, as this this is a NATIONAL effort:

********

1. CALL the DOI Legislative Affairs and leave a message for the

Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne.

Say something like this:

"I encourage Secretary Kempthorne to implement the Virginia Citizens

Defense League's Petition for Rule Making that the National Park

Service has rejected out-of-hand. Law-abiding citizens should be

allowed to protect themselves and their families while visiting a

National Park."

PLEASE MAKE THAT CALL - WE WANT DOI'S TELEPHONE LINE LIT UP BIG TIME!

Mr. Kempthorne's telephone number in Washington, DC is: 202-208-7351

********

2. Call your U.S. Senators and Congressman. Their names, phone

numbers and email addresses can be found by clicking here and

entering your zip and address:

http://capwiz.com/nra/officials/congress

Say something like this:

"Please have the Senator [Congressman] contact the Department of the

Interior's Secretary, Dirk Kempthorne, and ask him to overturn the

National Park Service's rejection of the Virginia Citizens Defense

League's Petition for Rule Making. Law-abiding citizens should be

allowed to carry a handgun to defend themselves while visiting a

National Park if the state in which the park is located allows such

carry!"

PLEASE MAKE THAT CALL - WE WANT CONGRESS' TELEPHONE LINES TO LIGHT UP

AS BRIGHTLY AS DOI'S!

********

3. After calling your Senators and Congressman, follow up with an email.

Here is a sample email you can use:

Please ask the Department of the Interior's Secretary, Dirk

Kempthorne, to overturn the National Park Service's arbitrary

rejection of the Virginia Citizens Defense League's Petition for Rule

Making and to implement that petition!

VCDL's Petition for Rule Making, representing over ONE MILLION gun

owners, would allow law-abiding citizens to carry a handgun for

self-defense in a National Park as long as the state in which that

National Park is located allows such carry.

The National Park Service's rejection letter was not only asinine,

but condescending towards America's gun owners.

My family member and I are given but one life each. I ask that you

make sure that I can defend those lives while visiting a National

Park!

Please let me know what you are going to do.

********

4. After calling and leaving a message for DOI, follow up with an

email to Secretary Kempthorne:

Email address:

exsec@ios.doi.gov

Suggested email subject:

Please approve VCDL's Petition for Rule Making!

Suggested email text:

Dear Secretary Kempthorne,

I ask that you approve and implement the Virginia Citizens Defense

League's (VCDL) Petition for Rule Making that would allow a

law-abiding citizen to carry a handgun for self-defense in a National

Park as long the state in which the park is located allows such carry.

The National Park Service sent a rejection letter to VCDL listing

four very poor reasons for the rejection. None of the reasons listed

legitimately justifies denying a person the right to defend the only

life they have been given.

The Petition, representing over ONE MILLION gun owners, was basically

rejected out-of-hand.

Please let me know what the Department of the Interior is going to do

regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR ADDRESS]

********

OK, ladies and gentlemen - let's ROLL!

Please spread this alert far and wide! We need gun owners from all

over the country to make this happen!

[Guest jackdog]

Will make the call on Monday AM

Jackdog

[Guest macho999]

TN has more than one National Park. Everyone talks about the Smokeys but they forget about the Cumberland Gap. There's a spot where you can stand on two states and straddle another one. Can you do that at the smokeys? Nope

[Marswolf]

There's a spot where you can stand on two states and straddle another one. Can you do that at the smokeys? Nope

Yeah, but in the Smokies you can stand in two important states.

[waynesan]

OUCH!!!