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NPCA, Park Retirees File Lawsuit to Halt Change in National Park Gun Rules

Jan 8th - 17:48pm | Kirby Adams

murders, robberies, rapes, kidnapping and other assorted acts of violence committed against innocent park visitors by sadistic lunatics and the drug runners who use the parks as their grow/lab area?

Jan 8th - 16:29pm | Brendan Perez

This has been in some level of discussion since 2004 at least-petitions, bill drafts, etc. and the gun control groups have been there the whole time predicting rivers of blood, shootouts over camp space, rampant poaching, etc. all the while ignoring the fact that criminals carry wherever they want whenever they want.

Jan 8th - 16:24pm | Ted Clayton

Warren flashes his political skills: "I am a gay man in a relationship of 18+ years ... I'll give you legal carry if you folks give me the legal HUMAN right to marry my partner of 18 years." Among the historical American leaders whom I resonate best to, a disproportionate number based their accomplishments mainly on the art of compromise. ;-)

Jan 8th - 16:07pm | Kurt Repanshek

Dustin, According to the Supreme Court, your "right to bear arms" in your home may not be infringed, but it's perfectly legal for a government, state or federal, to restrict where you can carry.

Jan 8th - 15:47pm | Dustin

Kurt, your only sources were the NPCA, the CNPSR, & the Brady folks, so the article is all one sided, just regurgitating their (the NPCA, the CNPSR, and the Brady folks) unsubstantiated anti freedom rhetoric.

Jan 8th - 11:20am | Warren Z

For the record, I am not "anti-gun". I happen to be "anti-" carry a gun anywhere you please, a gut reaction I admit, though I reasonably accept the well stated arguments and opinions of most of the commentators on the pro- carry side. I apologize for letting my own commentary slide into a realm of sarcasm and misinterpretation.

Jan 8th - 10:16am | Ted Clayton

Uncle Lar said (among other ringing commentary):

Jan 8th - 09:51am | Ted Clayton

Dr. Carl Dick, Thanks for the circumspect account as an 'outside' professional, from within the National Parks scene.

Jan 8th - 09:39am | Jim In Houston

"I guess I'm naive, I don't spend my days expecting "imminent threat of death or grievous bodily harm". And yet I've managed to survive for 45 years."

Jan 8th - 09:20am | Anonymous

We've geared up and posted signs. Tomorrow concealed weapons will enter the park legally.

Jan 8th - 09:17am | Ted Clayton

Jim in Houston, You picked Warren Z.'s remark: "Or perhaps you'll take it upon yourself to interpret a particular situation you decide is unlawful, thus justifying your need to provide defense?" ... as his "winner". Myself, though, I had a hard time resisting:

Jan 8th - 09:01am | Uncle Lar

I do not expect to have a flat, yet I carry a jack and a spare. I do not expect my house to catch on fire, yet I keep an extinguisher handy. I carry what I believe to be adequate home and auto insurance, though I certainly do not seek out accidents. And where prudent I carry a firearm, though I hope to never need it. If all this labels me paranoid, then so be it.

Jan 8th - 06:59am | Dr. Carl Dick

I am a biologist, and some of my work takes place inside National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. I do not support the NPCAs lawsuit, because I view it as a misallocation of limited financial and human resources. That the Brady Campaign filed suit is understandable, because "that's what they do." But this as an unworthy pursuit by the NPSA.

Jan 8th - 01:21am | Warren Z

Ted:

Jan 8th - 00:33am | Dave O

If only I had a dollar for every time I see in the Morning Report something about firearms possession in a park, I could have retired already!

Jan 7th - 22:56pm | Anonymous

Bravo Ted...Bravo!!

Jan 7th - 21:08pm | Jim In Houston

"Or perhaps you'll take it upon yourself to interpret a particular situation you decide is unlawful, thus justifying your need to provide defense?"

Jan 7th - 20:59pm | Ted Clayton

Warren,

Jan 7th - 20:20pm | Warren Z

Ted:

Jan 7th - 19:54pm | kath

Wow..cute comic! And is that the way we as U.S. citizens should see it? That we cannot go and visit a national park without feeling bodily threatened and in need of a firearm? My husband & I have visited numerous parks, and the day when I don't feel safe...we'll be staying home!

Jan 7th - 19:26pm | Ted Clayton

Warren Z., Warren said:

Jan 7th - 18:37pm | Warren Z

So... let's take all of the discussion about "lobbyists" out of the argument, and get back to the issue.

Jan 7th - 17:57pm | Ted Clayton

Bill, I understand that it is a little distasteful to see your organization mentioned, much less categorized with Exxon or NRA. But I did not say that CNPSR are liars, thieves or otherwise disparage them, only bringing forward that they are a "lobby", like a large number of other such groups that 'work' the government.

Jan 7th - 16:53pm | Bill Wade

Bill Wade Chair, Executive Council Coalition of National Park Service Retirees Ted -

Jan 7th - 16:37pm | Ted Clayton

NRA "drives" laws through Congress. When involved in a conflict or struggle, folks need to know who the opponent actually is, if they are to take effective actions. The problem is, folks very commonly react toward figures & entities other than the source of their grievance. Sounds weird - and often is! - but it's true.

Jan 7th - 16:21pm | Bill Wade

Bill Wade Chair, Executive Council Coalition of National Park Service Retirees

Jan 7th - 14:50pm | Kurt Repanshek

Bill, it's "Kurt.";-) That aside, I'm not at all in favor of crooks. But the system as it's currently running is working if you believe the crime stats for national parks.'Nuff said.

First Ladies National Historic Site Struggles to Attract Visitors

Jan 8th - 16:24pm | Azure

I'm sure most people here know that the National Park Service had and has ZERO interest in acquiring and administering a lot of these pork-barrel parks. Why does Cuyahoga National Park (a place that ought to be a county park at best) exist? Because local business/tourism/political interests wanted it to exist. Why was it upgraded from National Recreation Area to National Park?

Weekly Snowshoe Treks Coming to Glacier National Park

Jan 8th - 16:05pm | tahoma

Kurt-

Who's Being Mentioned For Director of the National Park Service?

Jan 8th - 10:49am | Bob Janiskee

Rangertoo, I'm struck by the parallels with academia, which is full of competent drudges who run departments, institutes, programs, and even a few universities here and there. Competent drudges get down there in the trenches and do the work, but they are completely replaceable -- just cogs in the machinery -- and are quickly forgotten after they've served out their time.

Jan 8th - 10:34am | Rangertoo

While I like these career NPS employees, I do not think that is what the NPS needs. The NPS needs someone politically connected and Washington savvy to raise the issues and needs of the bureau. The last few Directors have all been competent, experienced, park managers. That's not what the NPS needs in the top job. Let the career professionals handle that.

Fake USGS Site Urges Evacuation of Yellowstone National Park

Jan 8th - 09:37am | jsmacdonald

I noticed this several days ago and was really pissed off about it. The fake evacuation appeared to go viral over the internet, and I had a lot of Web searches to my newspaper looking for "evacuation" information.

Jan 7th - 21:27pm | Kirby Adams

Well, post-eruption you won't have to elbow your way through the crowds at Artist's Point to get a good look. Of course, actually finding the spot where Artist's Point used to be would be a whole new challenge! I wonder how snowmobiles fare in several hundred feet of ash?

Jan 7th - 19:23pm | Barky

Everytime I hear "someone created a fake website", I think "here's a guy who should probably get away from his computer and walk in the woods once in a while." Although, I admit, I think this might be the year I finally visit Yellowstone. Ya know, before it blows up and what-not. After that it'll be damned hard to find lodging!

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Jan 8th - 08:58am | Anonymous

What are you going to shoot it down with if you can't take a gun into the park?

Jan 8th - 08:56am | Guns R Safe, Pe...

I am 24 years old, VA resident. I was gun shooping around Thanksgiving 08. I was asking a myriad of questions (as I often do when pursuing something new). The gun dealer told me a story that him and his son (10 years old) went camping. They saw a relatively small bear and it began to charge the boy.

National Park System Would Gain Official Wilderness Under Omnibus Lands Bill

Jan 8th - 06:44am | Sabattis

Random Walker - Thanks for the link, I stand correct on that point. In practice, though, even decisions on signage seem to be made on a case-by-case basis, and there certainly are a number of wilderness areas where trailhead signage is only placed at the wilderness area boundary, but further trail markers are not placed within the area itself.

Jan 7th - 22:18pm | JimB

It will be interesting to see how this bill fares so early in the new session; perhaps that will provide a hint at how other park-related actions will fare.

Jan 7th - 22:15pm | Random Walker

Limited signage is allowed in designated wilderness areas: The Wilderness Act of 1964 and Signs

Jan 7th - 20:30pm | Sabattis

Paul - If you've ever visited a Park that is largely wilderness, like North Cascades, and compared it to the experience of say visiting Yosemite Valley or the developed areas of Yellowstone, I think you would quickly see the difference.

Jan 7th - 20:24pm | tahoma

It may not be such a reach, Kurt. Most of the larger units have a cadre of relatively well paid employees who have a vested interest in building new infrastructure. These range from contracting officer and Trail Foreman to Landscape Architect, Chief of 'Maintenance', and beyond.

Jan 7th - 20:18pm | Sabattis

Preoccupation with the economic crisis certainly played a role, but it was still somewhat surprising that Congress failed to pass its now seemingly standard end-of-session omnibus public lands bill. Even with the economic crisis, this probably would have still have passed but for the objections of Senator Coburn of Oklahoma. Sen.

Jan 7th - 19:17pm | Barky

OK, makes sense I suppose. Thanks for that! ==================================================== My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

Jan 7th - 18:43pm | Kurt Repanshek

Barky, no, it's not exactly empty rhetoric. While the areas in question have been "managed" as defacto wilderness, that's not the same as being officially designated wilderness.

Jan 7th - 18:33pm | Barky

Help me out here: why is a wilderness declaration of regions within an existing national park really matter? I understand that declaring other lands as 'wilderness' affords them protection from development, road building, etc., but aren't lands within a park already protected?

How Many National Park Rangers Does It Take to Cut Down a Tree?

Jan 8th - 00:41am | Dave O

It sounds to me like $600 toilet seats and $100 hammers are a deal compared to the cost of this.

Yosemite National Park Officials Looking For Suggestions on Preserving Badger Pass Ski Lodge

Jan 7th - 23:42pm | A Lurker

Ted, ClaireWalter's 5,000 figure is for the winter season at Hurricane Ridge, not for year-round. This is directly from the page she considerately linked to in her post.

Avalanche Awareness Clinic Set for Olympic National Park

Jan 7th - 21:14pm | Ted Clayton

The U.S. Forest Service has a NWAC Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center website that offers unusual & cool weather & forecasts. I use this site to fine-tune the Olympic Peninsula outlook.

National Park Quiz 36: Management

Jan 7th - 19:06pm | Bob Janiskee

Jeez, Barky, I can't get eleven correct myself! I demand a recount.

Jan 7th - 18:40pm | Barky

Wow, only got one wrong (including the bonus questions). My best showing yet! Sadly, one I got wrong (the Craters of the Moon) is one I actually visited. I thought the City of Rocks was the jointly managed recreation area, being a haven for recreational rock climbers. Are you sure that's not the correct answer? ;-) =====================================

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