Suit challenges national parks gun rule

What fatuous grandstanding. Two teachers are going to cancel trips to Ellis Island and the Mall? The Park Service rules allow concealed carry only if the surrounding state allows concealed carry. Does the District allow concealed carry? No. Does New York? Barely. This teacher is a hundred times more likely to encounter someone ILLEGALLY armed on Ellis Island than to encounter anybody legally armed. As far as National Parks already being "incredibly safe," I'd like to send Doug Pennington on a three-day unarmed hike through Organ Pipe, Sequoia, Coronado, or Padre Island national parks. That would not only settle this debate decisively, but infinitesimally raise the average national IQ.

Everyone should check these reports below before we assume our National Parks are safe. In fact if you care to dig a bit deeper you will find the NP Service pleading for more staff saying that they CANNOT garrantee their ranger's safety. This NOT about politics but about people's safety. So check these out and and PRINT your results. ------------------------- Evil in Paradise... Carl Stayner: Serial Killer. By Joseph Geringer - 2007 http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/stayner/index_1.html Armed Americans in national parks? YES! Doug Hagin - February 29, 2008 http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/hagin/080229 Crime rates tick up across national parks Amid the daisies and national monuments, more rangers find themselves battling lawlessness. By Brad Knickerbocker - Staff Writer of The Christian Science Monitor, August 08, 2005 http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0808/p03s01-ussc.html National parks are meant to be laid-back places where the stress and strain of work and home are left behind for a more mellow experience. But increasingly, those rangers in their Smokey Bear hats who give talks on nature and lead campfire singalongs - especially the ones trained in law enforcement - are facing crime and violence. Our National Parks – Crime's New Frontier Bruce Mandelblit - Jan. 15, 2003 http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/1/14/162412.shtml It appears, sadly, that smugglers, poachers and other criminal thugs have invaded our pristine national treasures. Illegal border traffic is wearing out preserve June 19, 2006 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13416072/ National Parks Plagued by Pot Fields By CN Staff on May 15, 2003, By Julie Cart - Source: Seattle Times http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16303.shtml Wild West: Drug cartels thrive in US national parks By Daniel B. Wood - S/writer of The CSM June 10, 2003 http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0610/p01s03-usgn.html Most Dangerous National Parks 2003 http://www.rangerfop.com/danger03.htm http://www.govexec.com/features/0503/0503s4s1.htm http://www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/03_Yellowstone/030801.most.dangerous.park.html

Further to my original comment below - I find it curious that the Brady Group is way too concerned about Concealed Carry in National Parks suggesting this would mean usual false cry of "blood in the streets" when millions of people with carry permits already visit our malls and neighbourhood parks everyday of the week with no ill effect...? The links I posted should tell you one thing - the NPS knew our parks were dangerous back in 2003 from bipeds not just wild animals and I very much doubt its got better since. Would anyone really want to hike in a National Park without some way to defend yourself if allowed?

What fatuous grandstanding. Two teachers are going to cancel trips to Ellis Island and the Mall? The Park Service rules allow concealed carry only if the surrounding state allows concealed carry. Does the District allow concealed carry? No. Does New York? Barely. This teacher is a hundred times more likely to encounter someone ILLEGALLY armed on Ellis Island than to encounter anybody legally armed. As far as National Parks already being "incredibly safe," I'd like to send Doug Pennington on a three-day unarmed hike through Organ Pipe, Sequoia, Coronado, or Padre Island national parks. That would not only settle this debate decisively, but infinitesimally raise the average national IQ.

I certainly wouldn't hike in the wilderness, east or west, north or south, without some protection. While the wildlife seen on Disney are nice and cuddily, friendly types that humans abuse, in reality they are fierce predators that can attack and will, especially if surprised or with young. You can't outrun a running bear nor outclimb it either. Any intelligent outdoorsman will have something along to protect themselves with. So teachers, stay home.

>six of its members who frequently visited national parks no longer will do so because of fears about gun violence< Poor babies! They shouldn't be outside with real animals. Stay home and hug your Teddy Bears.

It is imperative for this country's marxist movement to disarm the american people

"The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence suit says six of its members who frequently visited national parks no longer will do so because of fears about gun violence" Talk about unfounded fears! When was the last time you heard about someone getting gunned down in a national park by someone who is LEGALLY carrying a handgun? As far as I know, that has never happened. The only time you need to worry about "gun violence" is during hunting season, and then you only need to worry about the "city slickers" who are taking their first hunting trip as they tend to shoot anything that moves or looks out of place, including "deer" wearing blaze orange vests and sitting in a tree stand.

I disagree with the "Brady Bunch". I think it is Bush's parting gift to the American people based on the First Amendment. What do the "Brady Bunch" deem is adequate protection for us to be in the wilds of the National Parks. Call a ranger and he will come to the rescue with a GUN. These people are crusaders.

The Brady Bunch is a bunch of idiots to go against our guns where ever they can be carried. Do they ever go after the cops, that show that they aren't responsible enough to carry them? Of course not. Let these teachers who don't know the laws stop going to all these parks, like Ellis Island where only criminals can carry, it will keep us safer. Wildlife parks - they haven't got a clue what it is to be kept safe from. How about a hungry Grizzly or cougar? If they don't like gun-ownership they should move to a country that doesn't allow their people the RIGHT to have them - THEN we will have peice (gun peice) in the USA, and the USA will be safer! Well we'll be safer until Jan 20th that is!

SO iamwhoiam, you disagree the Park Rangers. Don't you think they know better than you?

I don't see Park Rangers going into the parks unarmed. I don't see Park Rangers around everytime I might need armed defense. So no, I don't think they know better than me, especially when it comes to which one of my constitutional rights can be arbitrarily suspended by an artificial geographic boundary.

Why does The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence continue to permote the misperception of lawabiding people and firearms that is so seriously inaccurate? The fact is people who legally carry concealed firearms are actually less violent and less prone to criminal activity of all kinds than is the general population. Yet, they continue to advocate the disarmament of ordinary people who have no desire to harm anyone but who realize its their responsibility to protect themselves. Victims don’t get to choose the time and place where they will be attact. The average American supports freedom of speech and freedom of religion, whether or not he chooses to exercise them. He supports fair trials, whether or not he's ever been in a courtroom. He likewise needs to understand that self- defense is an essential right, whether or not he chooses to own or carry a gun. No one needs to be a victim! It's not very easy to victimize a person who owns and knows how to use a firearm. If most women owned and carried firearms, rapes and beating would decrease. Thugs who target the elderly and disabled would find honest work once they realized they were likely to be looking down the barrel of a pistol or shotgun. It's nearly impossible to enslave, or herd into concentration camps, large numbers of armed people. When the need is greatest 1911 is faster than 911