A Loaded Rule Change

Filed in National by on December 29, 2008

One of President Bush’s parting shots was an executive order a Department of Interior rule change to allow people to carry concealed loaded weapons into our National Parks, thus revoking a previous executive order ruling from . . . wait for it . . . President Reagan. Boom goes the dynamite.

Before I address this National Parks rule change, let me say that I am not an anti-2nd Admendment zealot — I believe Americans should be allowed to own as many hand-made flintlock guns as they want.

So as an avid proponent of gun control legislation, I am appalled by Bush’s rule change. Senator Feinstein in today’s San Francisco Chronicle writes:

Allowing loaded and accessible weapons in our national parks will create a dangerous environment for the millions of Americans and tourists from around the world who visit our national parks every year. These park visitors expect a safe and enjoyable experience – not loaded guns and stray bullets.

Poaching will increase in our national parks, upsetting the delicate balance between park visitors and wildlife.

It will create a confusing patchwork of regulation that will be impossible to enforce. That’s because some parks, like Death Valley National Park, cross state lines. California prohibits concealed weapons in its state parks. Nevada does not. Which state’s law will apply at Death Valley?

The new regulation itself is vague and confusing because it permits state law on gun possession to determine whether guns are allowed in national parks. But many states – including California – generally allow the carrying of concealed weapons with a permit, but prohibit their possession in state parks. The new regulation isn’t clear on which state law applies.

Update: You can read the Department of Interior rule change.

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Comments (11)

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  1. liberalgeek says:

    Perhaps I am wrong, but isn’t Death Valley a National Park, not a State Park, thus California laws governing gun possession in a State Park are not enforced in a National Park? Admittedly, living in a state with no National Park makes me a little dumb on the finer points of park-law. Also as a non-gun-owner, I am somewhat unfamiliar with those laws as well.

    If it pisses off Mike W, I’m usually good with it, though… 🙂

  2. nemski says:

    Correction, it wasn’t an executive order, but a rule change by the Department of Interior. I’m looking for the verbiage now.

    Anywho, the ruling allegedly states that the laws in the State Parks shall be used for National Parks. That’s why the example of Death Valley.

    Also, people are now allowed to carry concealed weapons to the Inauguration because of this ruling.

  3. nemski says:

    Here is the press release from the Department of Interior.

  4. and to think…they only had eggs at Bush’s parade down Penn ave…

  5. Unstable Isotope says:

    Is the conservative version of paradise to turn everything into the OK Corrall?

  6. anon says:

    Also, people are now allowed to carry concealed weapons to the Inauguration because of this ruling.

    Technically no, but the risk is that some people will think that is true.

    http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/new-rule-prompts-fears-of-guns-at-inauguration-2008-12-27.html

  7. anon says:

    Also, people are now allowed to carry concealed weapons to the Inauguration because of this ruling.

    “Get down – he’s got a shoe!”

  8. David says:

    About time! During Reagan’s time we didn’t have a vast majority of states with concealed carry laws and the Supreme Court hadn’t ruled that the right to bear arms is an individual right. I am sorry that it took so long to update the rules with the laws.

  9. liberalgeek says:

    What I find interesting is the number of Senators that requested the change and will no longer be Senators when the rule takes effect.

  10. I believe Americans should be allowed to own as many hand-made flintlock guns as they want.

    And no doubt you would limit the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of the press to only those words printed via hand-set type operated and inked by hand.

  11. nemski says:

    Well, people from Texas wouldn’t have the right to free speech. 😉