Saturday, April 05, 2008

Why Keep National Parks Gun Free?

Regulations to keep firearms unloaded and inaccessible in our National Parks is being reconsidered by the Interior Department, currently headed by our (Idaho) own former governor. I hope the urging by former directors to leave well enough alone prevails.

Yes, crimes are committed within the boundaries of the Parks. These have included rapes, killings, assaults, robberies and kidnappings. Just like the general population. This is divvied up among some 391 parks, monuments and recreation sites and 270 plus million visitors. Would carrying loaded weapons help this number of incidences decrease? If anything I'd think it might increase. Those who would suffer the most would be the wildlife who have few places left to call home and be safe except from the dictates of nature.

Here are my reasons to leave your guns at home:

The guests.

The hosts.  What errant hunter wouldn't love this elk in velvet?

Or maybe want to lock onto a fox?

Or bully the bison?

The animals have no "gun rights".   Leave them be and leave us free to enjoy the visit.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here are my reasons to be allowed to carry my duty weapon in National Parks. You might have seen these before.

Yes, crimes are committed within the boundaries of the Parks. These have included rapes, killings, assaults, robberies and kidnappings.

Mari Meehan said...

Your duty weapon? May I assume you are a law officer of some sort and know how to use the weapon and understand discretionary use? I have no problem with that. My problem would be with a macho John Q. Citizen who would not be looking for muggers what's more would be murderers.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I'm a Texas Peace Officer. I feel for the most part, the majority of people are honest and descent citizens. There are bad apples everywhere though. Some think a 'No Guns Allowed' sign will turn away crooks, as in an armed crook approaches the Nat.Park entrance, sees the No Guns Allowed sign and goes, 'Heck! I can't go in' and turns and walks away.