Locked and Loaded – In the National Parks?
Chris Thomas, News Director
Monday, February 25, 2008
Seattle, WA – Would it change your family camping trip plans if you knew the people around the next campfire were carrying loaded guns? The U.S. Department of the Interior is rethinking its ban on loaded firearms in the National Park system, prompted by a letter signed by about 50 U.S. senators and backed by the National Rifle Association.
Current law allows guns in the National Parks and wildlife refuges, but requires them to be unloaded and stowed. Sean Smith, Northwest Regional Director of the National Parks Conservation Association, says the gun restrictions are in place for good reasons –- to help prevent poaching and vandalism, as well as keeping visitors and park employees safe.
"One thing people may not know is how often park rangers are assaulted. And the requirement that guns be stowed or unloaded reduces the number of times that they may be shot at or face an armed assailant."
Smith notes that safety is part of the attraction for people who use the parks.
"They camp or visit national parks now because of the restrictions on firearms. They're concerned about going to places like the national forests, especially in the fall, during hunting season."
Smith, a former National Park ranger in Washington, adds that most of the parks prohibit hunting, so there's no need to allow guns. Proponents of changing the policy argue that loaded weapons are allowed on state and Bureau of Land Management property; they call the National Park system rules "inconsistent and outdated."
More information about the proposed gun rule change is available online, at www.npca.org. The public will have a chance to comment on the proposed changes starting in May.
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