How did we know this was on the horizon. Do you recall the last battle lost over allowing LOADED weapons to be transported in private vehicles in our National Park system.
I'm all for having weapons, own several myself. They have a place and time for hunting needs, if you care to do so, but not in our National Parks.
Hey Paul, thanks for posting this. I responded. I just can't believe this is something that has to be debated. You'd think common sense would prevail here, but I guess that's just too big an expectation of this Nations leadership!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Chris, thank you for taking the time to follow through on this all too important message. And of course you're correct, where is the common sense here.
However, common sense did not prevail when many fought the fight on the loaded weapon issue that still passed. It has always been OK to travel in and through any NP that I'm aware of with a weapon. But the need to have it cocked and loaded is beyond any common sense. To me it was just the first step in getting what they really wanted, hunting and target shooting in the NP system nation wide. The fully loaded weapon being handy provides an easy opportunity for drive by shootings of any roadside wildlife IMVHO.
Again, this is not being biased one way or another, just a complete safety factor to protect the people visiting and all out protection for what remaining wildlife we do have in the parks.
Ugh. Thanks for posting this. I grew up hunting fairly often, and I consider myself a supporter of gun rights and hunting, but this seems like a bad idea for a number of reasons.
Matt, yes true hunting in the right areas and under existing regulations and etiquette has worked for hundreds of years. In fact many hunting organizations share in the same environmental quests that we photographers do.
However, with the sophistication used in the field these days to track game it would take no time at all for our parks to be cleared of all wildlife. For the most part they're almost domesticated animals to a point.
There is nothing like driving down a country road and seeing a road sign blotted out from round holes shot through it, surely our national parks deserve much better protection then that.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on April 25, 2012 at 2:39 PM
I certainly concur that there should be certain NP areas off limits to hunting. That said, I have no issue with the legal carry of concealed weapons for personal protection use. I believe this bill is to open more area for hunting and does not pertain to concealed carry/personal protection - correct me if I'm wrong.
I believe this bill is to open more area for hunting and does not pertain to concealed carry/personal protection - correct me if I'm wrong.
Jim, I've read the article a few times, I see no reference to the ban on weapons in the parks at all, it refers to ONLY opening up the parks for hunting and general target or recreational type shooting as they call it.
The legislation or bill allowing loaded weapons in the parks was passed a year or two back as I recall.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on April 25, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Paul, that is what I thought - thanks for confirming.
Posted by Ross Warner on April 29, 2012 at 9:54 AM
Since concealed carry has been allowed how many people have been injured by the people that are legally concealed carrying?
Discussion
8 repliesI'm all for having weapons, own several myself. They have a place and time for hunting needs, if you care to do so, but not in our National Parks.
HR 4089
At the bottom of the article is a link to make comments to Senators.
Chris
However, common sense did not prevail when many fought the fight on the loaded weapon issue that still passed. It has always been OK to travel in and through any NP that I'm aware of with a weapon. But the need to have it cocked and loaded is beyond any common sense. To me it was just the first step in getting what they really wanted, hunting and target shooting in the NP system nation wide. The fully loaded weapon being handy provides an easy opportunity for drive by shootings of any roadside wildlife IMVHO.
Again, this is not being biased one way or another, just a complete safety factor to protect the people visiting and all out protection for what remaining wildlife we do have in the parks.
However, with the sophistication used in the field these days to track game it would take no time at all for our parks to be cleared of all wildlife. For the most part they're almost domesticated animals to a point.
There is nothing like driving down a country road and seeing a road sign blotted out from round holes shot through it, surely our national parks deserve much better protection then that.
Jim, I've read the article a few times, I see no reference to the ban on weapons in the parks at all, it refers to ONLY opening up the parks for hunting and general target or recreational type shooting as they call it.
The legislation or bill allowing loaded weapons in the parks was passed a year or two back as I recall.