That headline about Smokey could appear in newspapers across the country soon. For the first time in 25 years, a new Bush Administration rule will allow people to carry loaded, concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges. Will the majority of people who visit these parks feel safer because of this new ruling? What do you think?
Which do you think is going to happen first, or more often: A law-abiding citizen with a permit to carry a concealed weapon will use his gun to protect himself or his property? Or, there will be a tragic accident involving a drunk and a gun, an animal and a gun, or a little kid and a gun?
Why do gun owners think it's so important to have a gun with them in a national park? Is this part of their "slippery slope" theory. You know, that if guns are prohibited in the parks, next they'll be saying you can't have a bazooka in your garage.
Here's the ruling: Beginning in January, people who are licensed to carry concealed weapons will be allowed to carry those weapons in national parks So, people will be allowed to carry firearms, concealed and loaded, in 388 out of the 391 national parks. Wisconsin and Illinois don't issue concealed carry permits, so the parks in those states are exempt. But I'm sure the National Rifle Association is taking aim at those three parks, too.
You're probably wondering what liberal, left-wing, Constitution-hating regime banned these weapons from parks 25 years ago. Well, the bill that did so was signed by Ronald Reagan. It required firearms to be unloaded and placed somewhere that wasn't too accessible, such as a car trunk, while people visited federal parks. I guess the NRA feels that the Founding Fathers were against keeping things in locked trunks.
This paragraph is specifically for members of the NRA and other gun owners. I'm not saying that you don't have the legal right to carry a gun into a national park. So you don't have to send me that nasty email. (But you can if you want to). I'm just appealing to common sense when I ask the question, "Why do you feel a need to bring a gun into a national park?"
The way the NRA explains it, "We are pleased that the Interior Department recognizes the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families while enjoying America's National Parks and wildlife refuges."
But what is it that they feel a need to protect themselves from? Until now, people weren't walking around with guns, so it can't be other campers. Shooting those bears who are sniffing around your garbage isn't allowed. Those Boy Scouts who might be singing too loudly aren't really a threat. So what are you so afraid of that you feel the need to have your gun with you?
Part of the above NRA quote refers to "enjoying" the parks. You mean, until now, there were people who visited the parks, and then afterwards said to their friends or spouses, "I loved the hiking, and the beauty of the park was breathtaking. But I really would have enjoyed the experience more if I had had my concealed weapon with me?"
I believe the NRA folks when they say they will feel safer because of this ruling. But what about the rest of us? Are you going to feel safer, knowing that those guys in the next tent who just drank a case of beer might be carrying concealed weapons? Are you going to be afraid to ask the woman by the campfire who's playing her radio too loud to turn it down now that you know that the thing in her pocket might not be a flashlight? And will that nervous guy with a gun who sees something moving in the middle of the night shoot it before realizing it's you running to the bathroom?
Gun guys, take a break. We all know the law says you can have your gun with you, but it doesn't say you must have it with you. Can't you leave it at home for one little weekend? Just have fun at the park, and if you think you're going to miss your gun too much, you can always bring a picture of it. Just don't reach for that picture too quickly. One of your buddies might think your reaching for something else.
In addition to writing television shows and columns, Lloyd Garver has read many books, some of them in hardcover. He can be reached at lloydgarver@gmail.com. Check out his website at lloydgarver.com and his podcasts at iTunes.
Well let's see, according to the NCVS, there are 108,000 cases of firearm self defense per year. According to the CDC, there are less then 800 fatal firearm accidents per year (a number that has been constantly dropping for years)
So considering the facts, I'd say cases of self defense are far more likely. Of course, gun control advocates do not want us to consider the facts, which is why Garver never bothered to look them up.
If you do not want to have the available equalizer then so be it, it is your family not mine, but I will carry a gun 99.99% of the time, it is my duty, my right, my responsibility and my privilage to protect my family when I am off duty, and everyone else when I am on duty. Why in the world would I use different tools for either?
Next thing you know people will want Karambits outlawed because they are "fighting" knives, or rope because people hang themselves, or duct tape because serial killers use it... I carry each of those while hiking as well.
Yep until now there has been no reason to be concerned about defending oneself in a National Park ,right
http://www.hkshooter.net/nps/crime.html
The reason a guns are carried concealed is mainly because it is somewhat socially unacceptable to carry openly (though it is legal in most states, just not in parks). But there are tactical reasons for it too (After all, even off duty cops carry concealed). If you are carrying your gun concealed, then criminals won't know about it, which means you won't have to worry about them trying to take it from you and it will give you the advantage of surprise during a criminal attack. It also is more benificial to society because it prevents criminals from knowing who is carrying and who isn't. Thus, they are left with the fact that all potential targets could be armed. In other words, even those who do not carry benefit from CCW.
Also with the proper holster, a concealed gun is not more difficult to draw then an openly carried gun. This is in some part due to the fact that openly carried guns need "retention holsters" to guard against being taken by the bad guys, where a normal holster is fine for CCW because criminals won't know about the gun until you draw.
I am not the first target.
Nobody knows it is there.
My concealed holster is a "speed" style and has no retention value if someone were to attempt to take my gun.
Look I practice with my concealed, and can take it out just as fast as when at work. Problem is you have no understanding because you do not have one.
"But what is it that they feel a need to protect themselves from? Until now, people weren't walking around with guns, so it can't be other campers."
Are you serious? Do you honestly believe that criminals obey park regulations?
"Are you going to feel safer, knowing that those guys in the next tent who just drank a case of beer might be carrying concealed weapons."
Drinking and handling a firearm is as irresponsible as drinking and driving. If someone is not responsible enough to do it, then they clearly will not be responsible enough to care about park gun rules anyway.
"Are you going to be afraid to ask the woman by the campfire who's playing her radio too loud to turn it down now that you know that the thing in her pocket might not be a flashlight?"
If she's willing to shoot me over a minor dispute, then she's obviously a criminal and is not going to care about park gun regulations in the first place
"And will that nervous guy with a gun who sees something moving in the middle of the night shoot it before realizing it's you running to the bathroom"
No, that would violate the basic rules of gun safety, which all gun owners should know.
"Can't you leave it at home for one little weekend?"
No. I have my permit so I can carry everywhere, not some places.
Does anyone have any evidence that the dozens of state parks which allow CCW are any less safe then the federal parks which up until now have not allowed it? If not, then what basis do you have to claim CCW will make federal parks less safe?
Of course we all know the truth. Allowing lawful citizens with CCW permits to carry their lawfully concealed handguns does not cause any safety problems. This has proven true everywhere else, and it will prove true in federal parks as well.
This article is the latest in a long pattern by CCW opponents. Whenever a law or rule change occurs that allows citizens to carry in a place that previously did not allow it, they always oppose it by claiming it will lead to "blood in the streets" and shootouts over routine arguments. Then after months and years go by with no problems whatsover, they ignore the issue until it comes up again, which at that time they make the exact same argument.
Being a CCW opponent means never having to say you're sorry or admit you're wrong.
And it is CCDW, so guess what.. your wrong:)
Lloyd just doesn't get it. The short answer is "the same reason we carry our guns everywhere else: protection from predators, particularly ones with 2 legs."
But the real issue isn't about parks or any other specific place. It's the simple fact that as CCW holders, we carry our guns everywhere we can. We do this because criminals do not give advance notice on the time or location they intend to strike.
I don't carry a concealed handgun to places because I expect trouble. If I was expecting a situation at a location where I might have to shoot someone, I would avoid the place if I could, and if I could not, I would bring something much more powerful then a handgun (preferably a rifle). A handgun is a self defense tool that you carry when you are NOT expecting trouble. It sacrafices power and accuracy for comfort and concealment, Thus, it is what you use as a general self defense tool for "normal" situations when you don't expect to have any problems, but want to be prepared in case you do, just as wearing a seat belt does not require you to expect a car accident.
But people like Lloyd Garver will never bother to figure this out.
I'm worried about Rocket J Squirrel.
As for why I feel the need to have a gun with me, i'll quote what I said in another article on this subject: Where I live, it's just common sense to take a gun with you when you leave civilization. Whether you're going into the wilderness of our national parks or the wilderness of the inner city, you should always have protection, whether it's a gun, knife, or a really big stick. You carry whatever you can get away with carrying.