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Discussion Topic: Brady Campaign Sues Over Park Gun Rule
From a Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence press release:
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence today filed suit in federal court asking that the court strike down a last-minute Bush Administration rule change allowing concealed, loaded firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges.
“The Bush Administration’s last-minute gift to the gun lobby, allowing concealed semiautomatic weapons in national parks, jeopardizes the safety of park visitors in violation of federal law,” said Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke. “We should not be making it easier for dangerous people to carry concealed firearms in our parks.”
Your reaction?
Last minute?! This has been over a year in the making with months of public comment. And it wasn't initiated by the Bush Administration but by a group of legislators including Mike Crapo from Idaho who were responding to requests from their constituents.
As as we all know, dangerous people already carry firearms in restricted areas, that's part of why they're dangerous and why honest citizens should be allowed to carry lawfully in national parks and national wildlife refuges.
Posted by: Jerry | January 06, 2009 at 10:09 AM
My standard response to people who want to restrict 2nd Amendment rights is to suggest that their 1st Amendment rights be restricted.
Posted by: Mike Diehl | January 06, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Who's dangerous? Me? I think the anti-gun lobby should watch V for Vendetta and see if they get anything out of it.
Posted by: jcarlin | January 06, 2009 at 11:32 AM
More goofy stuff from the fringes of American society. Notice how the law abiding, licensed to carry folks automatically become the "dangerous" people according to this person. He conveniently ignores the fact that the real danger lies with those who don't care what the law is. They will do what they want when they want and they will do it quicker and easier to you when they know you are unsupecting and defenseless. Those who choose to be sheep may continue to do so, those who choose not to be sheep now have an option on our public lands.
Posted by: Raven | January 06, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Humm, lets see when the CCW law was passed in Michigan we were supposed to have wild west style shoot-outs at high noon, and blood covering every street so thick it could be mistaken for a flash flood! Guess what none of it happened and numerous law enforcement officers are now relieved when they run a tag and it returns the owner is a person licensed to carry a concealed pistol, why because they know the owner had to pass a background check, isn't insane, is willing to jump through the hoops to follow the letter of the law, and is probably of decent report. In Michigan we are finding that gun laws are getting less and less restrictive this year they are doing away with the "Safty Inspections" registration of handguns all together, when you purchase a handgun you fill out a quadruplet form and one copy goes to the store, one to the local P.D. or Sheriff's office, one to the State Police, and one to the purchaser.
Posted by: Eric | January 06, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Couple questions:
1. I am assuming that you still need to have a CCW permit in order to carry a concealed weapon in a Nat. Park or refuge.
2. If that is the case, why does this matter?
Now if this new rulemaking usurps state's rights, then I have a problem. Otherwise, this is one of the few common-sense actions that have come out of the Bush Administration.
Personally, I rarely carry a gun with me when not hunting, even though I live in an area with a high concentration of lions. However, that's my personal preference. If someone feels the need to carry a concealed weapon for safety in a National Park (something that seems a bit overboard to me) then by all means do it.
Posted by: Sage Sam | January 06, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I agree with some comments above. This is just like the carry on campus issue. These people are carrying concealed everywhere else but become dangerous when the walk on school grounds or into a National Park. Dangerous people don't care if it's legal. That is what make them dangerous. Not the fact that they went to the trouble to get a CCW.
Posted by: Chris H. | January 06, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Words to live by:
"Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."
National parks are not bastions of safety. As usual, the way the gun control crowd hopes to help is by disarming the law abiding citizen. I can hear the criminals now; "Gee, I had hoped to go into this national park and lie in wait by a hiking path, so that when I saw a single female hiker I could hold her at gunpoint, then rape and kill her, but golly! It's illegal to carry a gun in a national park! Curse the Brady crowd!" Sounds stupid when you say it out loud, doesn't it?
Posted by: eyeball | January 06, 2009 at 10:03 PM
They are gonna either:
a.)try to make them remove this rule
b.)make it so they cant be concealed
On one hand, if someone sees your gun, they won't even bother you at all.
But if its concealed and they try to jump you, it would get ugly.
Posted by: Evan V | January 06, 2009 at 10:59 PM
bull $#!! dangerous people?! yeah right, more like people protecting themselves from mountain lions and bears.
Posted by: Mc. Squizzy | January 06, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Dude, I agree with the guy that says when they try to take away the second amandment. Tell them you will try to take away the first. If they want to take my guns they will look that barrel pointin their way and move out
Posted by: ? | January 07, 2009 at 12:35 AM
All,
Please do not let your comments die here. Write your Senators and tell them the same thing. The liberals are being heard, (newspaper articule). Write the media in your area too. If you're not sure who to write to, go to: http://www.capwiz.com/nra/dbq/officials/
and you can look it all up by your zipcode.
The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. PERIOD!!
RG
PS - Then join either the NRA or the GOA (Gun Owners of America) both very pro 2nd Amendment.
Posted by: Richard Grimes, Troy NC | January 07, 2009 at 07:33 AM
one small problem Mr. Helmke, dangerous people aren't allowed to carry concealed weapons!! bad people will always do bad things. don't punish good people for it!
Posted by: Joe | January 07, 2009 at 08:10 AM
The most dangerous people in America? The Brady Thugs,and other anti-gun kooks!
We need a law making every person liable for damages who votes for or influences "gun free zones": these are the places where innocent people are murdered. Think about it!
Posted by: B. Lee Pemberton | January 07, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Ask people such as the Brady Thugs why they want innocent people disarmed, and subject to being victims of criminals, and listen carefully to their reply!
Posted by: B. Lee Pemberton | January 07, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I read the press release, and visited the Brady Center website. It is replete with the typical hysterical rhetoric one would expect from a bunch of fusilophobes. If you get agitated very easily I suggest you do not visit their website.
Posted by: JohnR | January 07, 2009 at 03:08 PM
I all but had to give a DNA sample and promise my 1st born to get my CCW permit. If I'm honest and pure enough to pass all that, then surely I can be trusted to act responsibly on national park land. Oh, that's right, the Brady bunch doesn't work in the mediums of common sense and trust. Guess I wandered off for a moment. I don't know whether this whole thing is more amazing or depressing but would bet that it will only get worse over the next four years. On a side note, are Pelosi, Schumer, and company's body guards allowed to carry on federal property? Silly me...........
Posted by: 007 | January 07, 2009 at 04:23 PM
Its true that good people have been punished by the terrible and senseless acts of some bad people out there. Its too bad its almost always been like this. Its also true that almost nothing...not even good people having guns can stop idiots from committing crimes with there guns.
Posted by: CTB | January 07, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Carry 24x7. Remember, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
Posted by: jir | January 07, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Even if you have a valid CCW and concealed carry is allowed in national parks very few people will be able to concealed carry anyway. If you look at it this way, most people who are visiting national parks and forests are out of state tourists so their CCW isn't valid in another state. I don't see that much need to allow concealed carry in parks. Just allow open, non-concealed carry with loaded firearms and everyone should be relatively happy.
Posted by: Williams | January 08, 2009 at 01:17 AM
The sad reality is that what the Brady thugs... and those behind the anti gun agenda, are trying to do is create a delicately woven situation that resolves to make criminals out of what we have always known in America as law abiding citizens. What makes a criminal a criminal? The violation of a "law". Guns are not necesarily the sole target, but the first step to taking away something more important~ all of our freedoms. I think that the next four years will bring many new "laws" that will make outlaws out of most of us in one way or another... people that are currently law abiding citizens, patriots, will be cast as dissidents and outlaws. What should be the right course of action for people who still believe in the America we hold so dear? I hope we can speak out with a voice that is better heard... take Mr. Grimes advice, contact your representatives, tell your friends, for God's sake, vote... the liberals figured out how to! Support freedom before we are all suddenly "outlaws"... and freedom slips quietly away...
Best~ JB
Posted by: jbart | January 08, 2009 at 02:23 AM
Posted by: Sean | January 08, 2009 at 09:32 PM
hey another sean ill add a j on mine for reference ive posted all the rebel stuff, anywaise guns in parks great idia thank you bush now let me graduatem and get to iraq bye yall.
Posted by: sean j | January 08, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Mike Diehl,
YOur standard response of asking anti gun people if they would want thier first amendment rights to be restricted is a great responcse but you need to point out to them also with this arguement that with out the 2nd Amendment there isn't going to be a 1rst Amendment. Remember that the 2nd Amendment was put there for the People to be able to defend themselves from other Individuals and from the Government (you know the group of people that have guns and a monopoly on force)
"What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins."
Elbridge Gerry
Debate U.S. House of Representatives
August 17,1789
(found in "The Essential Second Amendment Guide" by Wayne LaPierre
Posted by: Scott | January 11, 2009 at 10:31 AM
hello and merry xmas to every one - hope yous had a nice one - pity we didnt get snow was all prepared wi sledges kids loving it any ways , all the best for 2012 - mick b
Posted by: mickbuely | December 31, 2011 at 06:34 PM