Feral Hiker

Guns restrictions loosened in National Parks

The Bush administration has released regulations allowing carrying of loaded guns inside National Parks (see http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008475500_guns06.html). I blogged why I thought this was a bad idea before (http://feralhiker.blogspot.com/2008/02/carrying-weapons-in-national-parks.html) and I shouldn't belabor the points now. However, I'm disappointed that this step was taken. It seems to me to be a solution in search of a problem. I have yet to see or hear much evidence that there is either a widespread desire or need to carry a loaded weapon in most National Parks. I realize that most comments were in favor of the change; however that does not mean most Park users are in favor of the change. Also Park administrators are highly critical of this change.

Of course there are a lot of conditions around the new regulations, the most stringent is the person must have a concealed weapons permit. Another is that the state(s) in which the park resides must allow concealed weapons. Hopefully, this will reduce the number of loaded guns carried although I suspect many people will not understand the restrictions and carry anyway. For instance, does a Washington State concealed carry permit allow me to carry weapons into Yellowstone Park in Wyoming? The Wyoming page on concealed carry permits suggest it does (http://attorneygeneral.state.wy.us/dci/CWP.html) but don't rely on my interpretation. According to the Seattle times article above, the reverse is not true, someone with a Wyoming permit could not take a weapon into Washington's parks.

See also http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2008/12/interior-officials-release-rule-change-allow-national-park-visitors-arm-themselves for an opinion and many comments on the change in gun rules.

posted by feralhiker @ 5:45 PM