Only Minutes Left to Comment on Concealed Carry In National Parks

[TPaine7]

Today is the last day to submit a comment on the proposed rule change to allow concealed in National Parks.

To leave your comment, go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648053d497 and click on the little quote symbol beside "Add Comments."

I left mine minutes ago.

[virginia mountainman]

1. Done been done...

Thanks for the reminder....

Did it several months ago, had to do it again, because Sara Brady's Republican lead minions did not "feel" that they had enough time to respond, and it was not fair to those that want to infringe on our civil rights.

So, since they got more time, We got an extra "whack at it too"

[Major Hogwash]

2. Doesn't matter, they're going to do what they want to do anyway.

People that live in red states are already aware of that, the government does what they want to do anyway, despite any criticism or contradictory testimony or alternate evidence.

[spin]

3. Only people who have concealed carry permits...

will be allowed to posses loaded weapons in national parks.

The proposed change would have the parks adopt the gun laws of the state in which they are located. This means a person would be able to take a loaded, concealed weapon into a national park if he or she holds a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon in a given state and as long as they would be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in that state's parks.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/13/guns.park/index.html

Since people with concealed carry permits have a very low crime rate this should in no way turn national parks into the "old west".

And while it is true that national parks are safe places to visit there are problems:

The Ranger Lodge recently issued an astonishing report, "The Ten Most Dangerous National Parks." In this report, national parks are rated based upon their dangers to National Park Service rangers. You may not know that, according to the Department of Justice, park rangers are the most assaulted of all federal law enforcement officers.
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/1/14/162412.shtml

While neither the U.S. Forest Service nor the National Park Service keeps precise statistics about crime on federally protected lands, officers and rangers in Washington say that crime appears to be on the rise in the backcountry.

That fact was underscored by the July 11 slayings of a Seattle mother and daughter on a trail in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, killings that remain unsolved. The shootings of Mary Cooper, 56, and Susanna Stodden, 27, prompted hikers and campers to briefly stay away from the popular recreation areas near Mount Pilchuck at the height of camping season.

Such violent crimes are still quite rare in national parks and forests.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003305418_safetrails15m.html

Gun free zones attract predators. Allowing people with concealed carry permits to "pack heat" might just make parks safer.

[Major Hogwash]

4. Actually, bears don't carry guns.

I thought everyone knew that.

If people are too afraid to go outside, stay inside.

[spin]

5. You reminded me of a story I heard years ago...

I worked with a ex-military guy who had been stationed at a radar installation in Alaska.

He told me that if he wanted to leave the installation to go hiking or fishing he had to carry a weapon with him. The Air Force was worried about bear attacks. He was required to purchase the weapon and chose to buy a .357 mag Colt Python. ( He probably would have just pissed an attacking bear off if he would have shot it.)

He showed my his nickel plated Python. It was one beautiful weapon.

[Major Hogwash]

6. I've heard some wild national parks stories before, but . . .

I don't believe hardly any of them.

[brolin_1911a1]

7. Disbelief Does Not Disprove

I live amongst several Ozark Scenic Riverways National Parks. If you lived near them you'd hear and believe a lot more such stories. We have a few black bears here. They are not a problem. What we also have are partying hoodlums from St. Louis, Kansas City, Little Rock, and other urban areas who believe, correctly in too many cases, that the scarcity of law enforcement coupled with remote location means they can get away with anything. Couples and women, especially, coming upon these party animals, and I do mean animals, are often molested and/or robbed. I know, personally, several local canoe outfitters and campground operators and they all have true horror stories to tell.

And then there are the marijuana plots and meth heads in the woods surrounding these parks. Accidentally stumbling onto one of these while unarmed is not conducive to good health. I've a personal friend who accidentally encountered some meth heads cooking meth in his front yard near one of these parks one night. Fortunately, when one of the meth freaks pointed a gun at my buddy, said meth freak discovered my friend already had a gun in his own hand and was not reluctant to shoot. According to a local deputy sheriff, such things happen about seven to ten times a week but don't rate being reported unless someone is actually shot.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. This is my concern.

I'm more worried about the two legged animals, than the four. I've encountered meth lab debris, and the remnants of rather suspicious grow ops in National Forests. To say nothing of punk teenagers with alcohol, a bad attitude and who knows what else. I suspect the National Parks aren't much different.

[benEzra]

10. Ditto. My father had a close call one night in the Croatan National Forest when I was a child.

Aggressive people, not bears. They backed off when they saw he had a pistol.

[Major Hogwash]

9. The push for support to arm bears is overrated.

Most rational people know that.

[TPaine7]

11. Maybe you'll believe this one. . .

GATLINBURG, Tenn. - Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park say a black bear mauled an 8-year-old Florida boy and the boy's father was injured while defending him.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080812/ap_on_re_us/bear_attack.

Then again, maybe not.

[Major Hogwash]

12. Let me just say this about that, TPaine7

If you go into bear country, you're considered dinner.

Just don't go into bear country and expect not to be on their menu.
Stupid fucking people go into bear country every day and expect not to be on their menu.
Why?
Because they are stupid fucking people.

[tburnsten]

13. That's why it is best to carry a slug-loaded 12 guage

or at least a big bore revolver like .41/.44 magnum or higher caliber. Maybe a ten millimeter if you like autos and have some actual 10mm Auto ammo, and not 10mm FBI Lite ammo.

Whatever it is, it has to be capable of defeating bear skull and reaching vitals.

[Major Hogwash]

14. How are you going to carry that weapon concealed?

There's only one place it would fit, but it wouldn't be polite if I told you where I think you'd have to stick it.

[tburnsten]

15. Not all states prohibit open carry

And I think the plan is to have states determine weapon policies based on their existing laws, not force all states to allow concealed carry.

And if it is cool enough outside for a light jacket than an N-frame Smith & Wesson revolver wouldn't be too hard to conceal on either a belt or in waist band holster. Or you could use a 10mm, that would be even easier to carry concealed since the gun will not have an unwieldy bulging cylinder, and will be faster to reload, permitting the user to carry a magazine with a different ammuntion in it for use against human predators. Heavy hardcast loads at max velocity would be what is needed against any predator, except big cats which are pretty thin-skinned and lightly built, so JHP would probably be best.