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Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them?

May 1st - 23:56pm | Bob

"It seems that you'd have to watch the trail constantly rather than lifting your head and eyes to view the sights around you on a bike trail. No?" No. Why don't you try it before forming an opinion? Do you constantly watch the ground when riding a bike? "What's the point of it?"

Groups Sue To Overturn Removal of Greater Yellowstone Wolves from Endangered Species List

May 1st - 22:36pm | Anonymous

It is perfectly legal to kill wolves that leave the park and threaten livestock. After all, all you environuts were warned that this would happen, and now you're cryin...and you're probably eatin' a fat juicy steak while you're cryin.

Apr 30th - 15:20pm | Betty H

Bob, you seem to be an ethical hunter and I am so glad there are a few of you left out there ! Wish I could share a beer with you ! Hopefully before we kill most of the great predators AGAIN, mankind will wake up and appreciate what makes our great wilderness and wildlife so very special and precious.

Congressman Calls for Full EIS of Proposal to Allow Concealed Carry in America's National Parks

May 1st - 18:04pm | JoeSF

Mr. Grijalava is a proud former member of La MEChA and an open borders advocate. Given the dangers that exist along the Arizona Border including this congressman’s 7th district I feel it is safe to assert that law abiding citizens would be crazy not to be armed in the back country there. While I respect Mr.

May 1st - 16:40pm | RangerTyler

"geared toward pacification of special interests" I don't see defending civil rights and the Bill of Rights as a "special interest". Do the members of this site refer to the outcry at the NPS's proposed ban on assembly on the National Mall a "special interest"? Is the First Amendment--and its guarantees of freedom of the press and assembly--a special interest?

May 1st - 16:25pm | Fred Miller

Good point. Places like you mention are no places for guns. None needed. They all have metal detectors and security guards. The backcounrty I'm talking about does NOT. My point is that if you aren't taking EVERYONE'S gun, don't try to take MINE.

May 1st - 16:01pm | Rangertoo

Pro-gun advocates commenting on this issue seem to forget what national parks are. They are not all Yosemite. They include Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Ellis Island, the home of Frederick Douglas, the Washington Monument, Lincoln's home, and similar sites. Do you really want people carrying guns into Ellis Island or Independence Hall?

May 1st - 15:48pm | Fred Miller

I'm not sure I would use the term "backbone". A recent survey showed that 73% of the American people think the right to bear arms is an INDIVIDUAL right. To deny me my God-given right to defend myself is not "showing backbone" It is criminal and immoral.

May 1st - 15:42pm | Fred Miller

"Election-year pandering"? When is the Congressman up for re-election? Sounds like he's trying to get his name in the news if you ask me.

May 1st - 15:42pm | jsmacdonald

Got to speak out for my gang back in DC. Please stop confusing the politicians with the people of the city; they already don't have any representation from those bozos (whatever way the saw cuts).

May 1st - 15:10pm | Anonymous

Thank God someone in DC has some sort of backbone.

May 1st - 14:47pm | Fred Miller

Well said Kurt. I'm composing a slightly more intelligent response now. I'll post it later.

May 1st - 14:28pm | Lone Hiker

I don't believe my eyes. A member the ruling elite openingly identifying this pitiful maneuver of legistlative pandering as nothing short of electioneering geared toward pacification of special interests? From a Western state no less. And a LIBERAL to boot! What's this world coming to.......his term must not be up anytime soon!

May 1st - 14:25pm | Kurt Repanshek

That saw cuts at least two ways, Fred;-)

National Parks Traveler Launches User Forums

May 1st - 13:21pm | Rick Smith

Joe-- I was impressed by the many Australian rangers whom I met at the International Ranger Federation's World Ranger Congress held in Wilsons Promontory NP in Victoria, Austrailia. They seemed to have their heads screwed on right. It was an impressive group. You made a good choice.

May 1st - 12:21pm | Joesf

Rick

Apr 30th - 08:57am | Rick Smith

Kurt--

Nevada Barr’s Next Park Novel: An Unauthorized Preview

May 1st - 10:07am | Bob Janiskee

Since you're an experienced Nevada Barr reader, Debbie, maybe you could provide some advice for newcomers. Would you recommend that a newbie read the 14 books featuring ranger Anna Pigeon in chronological order, from first to last, or would it be OK for her/him to start with the most recent one (Winter Study) or perhaps any book in the series?

May 1st - 09:10am | Debbie

Thank you for this article. Love the Nevada Barr novels I have read and look forward to finding others. We listen to books on CD driving into the night to get to our vacation destination (usually a NP). No better company than Anna Pigeon when driving into the night! We really enjoy the insight she gives into the inner workings of the park system that the average tourist never sees.

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

May 1st - 09:42am | NoGunsInParks

For those who argue that people who hold a permit for concealed carry are "well-trained in the use of a gun," check this article out: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20031009/ai_n10028946 I'd hate to meet any of those folks carrying a gun in the Everglades!

Apr 30th - 17:32pm | Random Walker

RonC I love ONP also. I see bear (up close even) about every backpack. Try the east side tree line meadows late summer during blueberry time. Could be early fall this year (?) I'll be out there for sure! IMHO carrying a weapon for fear of bear and other critters, into Our National Parks in the lower 48 is just silly. HYOH!

Apr 30th - 14:58pm | Fred Miller

The point has been made that a gun probably won't protect me from a bear. I don't carry because of the bears. I carry for the same reason John Steadham carries: to protect myself and my loved ones. My primary concern is to encounter a snake, either the kind that slither, or the kind on two legs.

Apr 30th - 14:54pm | RonC

A bit more reading... http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20031009/ai_n10028946

Apr 30th - 14:42pm | John Steadham

One carries a gun in a park for the same reason one carries it anywhere else . To protect yourself and loved ones. not just to kill something.......DUH

Apr 30th - 12:59pm | RonC

Eric, I will! It will be Olympic National Park this summer (err if the snow ever melts!). What an awesome place. I actually saw a black bear two years ago. I was disapointed in the picture (I prefer shooting wildlife with a camera for sure.) But he was just too far away.

Apr 30th - 12:48pm | Eric

Thanks RonC, It will be interesting to see how all of this unfolds, above all have fun and enjoy the wonders of our beautiful National Parks as I will continue to do no matter what happens!

Apr 30th - 12:48pm | RonC

Here is the original petition.... http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/VCDLPRM_010408.pdf

Apr 30th - 12:38pm | RonC

Eric, I was not trying to ge personal. My attempt at a little humor I guess did not come across well and for that I apologize (You have heard that bear joke right?).

Apr 30th - 12:09pm | Eric

RonC, Why get personal? I don't have an 8 year old daughter, I do have one on the way and I would not take her where I was, An 8 year old probably would not be able to. The picnic table remark was from another persons post, I used as an exagerated example. why am I curious about you carrying in a NP?

Apr 30th - 12:03pm | Anonymous

Bear spray says it all! If you miss your shot buddy with a hand gun against a full charging bear...you're mince-meat! At least with bear spray you don't shoot your buddy by mistake in a panic attack.

Apr 30th - 11:34am | RonC

Hey NoGunsInParks, I carry bear spray!

Apr 30th - 11:28am | NoGunsInParks

From the Brady Campaign web site:

Apr 30th - 11:05am | RonC

Eric, Well it is your choice to not carry. Good for you. I desire to carry, good for me. I think I implied strongly in my earlier post that I do not carry when it is illegal. I only carry when it is lawful.

Apr 30th - 10:28am | Eric

I have yet to hear a good reason to carry fire arm in a NP. As for being fearful, I for one am not, I don't have a reason to carry a fire arm in the NP's. It seems the ones who feel they have to carry a fire arm are the ones who are fearful. As for how many people have carried fire arms illegaly into NP's who knows? RonC, Have you illegaly carried a fire arm into a NP?

Apr 30th - 09:49am | RonC

Anon, First drinking and carrying concealed is another no-no. If you carry , you cannot drink. Although I do not know every state law, you can be certain that law is on every state book. A CCW holder WILL lose his permit and go to jail.

Apr 30th - 09:22am | Eric

Mike M. , No one? I beg to differ. I was standing in line at a Longs drug Store just 2 days ago and what do I hear from the (for lack of better words) IDIOT in front of me? "Ya, its cool to be able to carry a gun, we used to go back in the hills here and shoot birds and squirrels." He then showed the clerk his permit and flashed his waist with his gun.

Apr 30th - 07:25am | Anonymous

Anon - I totally see your point of view and understand your concerns about bears and other humans, but bear with me here... *In many of the eastern parks, such as Congaree or Acadia, the chances of you running across any animal that will attack is slim to none, so in some park units, that argument is pretty much invalid.

Apr 30th - 01:00am | Anonymous

With all due respect, as a CCW holder, I welcome the regulations. You seem to be afraid of the possibility of somebody using their gun to settle an argument. Frankly, to get a CCW permit you have to go through a background check. These are not just some willy-nilly morons carrying guns. Problems with CCW holders are few and far between.

Apr 29th - 22:15pm | Lone Hiker

No, people aren't equating firearms and a segment of American history. People are correlating questionable judgment by those who think "firearms first" as a defense against whatever it is you think you're defending yourself against. I haven't seen one item in any of these threads that questions the "preparations" gun owners say are so rigorous to obtain permits.

Apr 29th - 21:23pm | fhasti

Ok Mr M, lets put you on the hotseat for once, since you think we're all over-reacting once again. Lets ask you a simple question. Do you think there are going to be people who don't give a damn about wether or not you have to have a concealed weapons permit to carry a gun and bring them into the park? YES there will be. So your argument is one sided of course.

Apr 29th - 20:53pm | Rick Smith

This is as bad as it gets. There is zero reason to carry a concealed weapon in a park. And the argument that it clears up confusion is ludicrous. It creates more. This is an idea that as the Coalition of NPS Retrees says deserves to be shot down. Rick Smith

Apr 29th - 18:49pm | Anonymous

Appalling! But then, everything that this administration has done in its eight years of ruinous misery is consistent with this insanity. The true responsibility for this lies not with Bush, Cheney, or the NRA, but with the American public for electing, then re-electing these lunatics, and then not having the backbone or ethics to impeach them. Is this really a surprise?

Apr 29th - 18:45pm | Mike M.

Once again people think guns and the Wild West. The people that have a concealed carry permit have higher standards than that. They have had training on the use of a firearm and the consequences of its inappropriate use. And besides, how many times have you heard of someone that has a permit using a firearm illegally. Yea that's what I thought, NONE

Apr 29th - 17:58pm | Dave C.

Are these politicians idiots? This doesnt even make sense! What in the world do we need to carry guns for in a National Park? The world is coming to an end.

Apr 29th - 15:09pm | Lone Hiker

For this, someone can find enough time away from truly important issues to assist special interests in an election stunt. Speaks loudly and succinctly about who’s the puppeteer and who’s the marionette in this debate.

Senators' Letter to Open National Parks to Concealed Weapons

Apr 30th - 14:07pm | Anonymous

My wife and I have camped at Acadia National Park in Maine, 12 of the past 15 years. We have never encountered a "derelict" nor any other campers strolling about, packing their weapons. Both facts make us feel happy and secure. Packing a weapon is a sign of insecurity. Think about it.

Charismatic Marine Fauna

Apr 30th - 08:59am | Bob Janiskee

It's so sad that the coral reefs providing vital habitat for this gorgeous fish and a host of other marine species are being destroyed or degraded all over the world at an alarming rate. The reef losses have reached critical levels in many areas, leaving us to wonder if some of the affected species may soon be wiped out completely.

Congressman Introduces Legislation To Double The Size of Big Thicket National Preserve

Apr 30th - 07:19am | Anonymous

WOOO! Thanks to Mr. Brady for his leadership. BITH is certainly a special place, and unique in the park system.

Bison, Elk and Bears Might Be Cute, But These Videos and Statistics From National Parks Suggest Caution

Apr 29th - 13:07pm | jsmacdonald

So true, Dorothy, if only that could compete with the lack of respect the National Park Service has shown these animals - specifically the bison - every winter and spring. Sigh.

Traveler's Top 10 Picks For Movies Involving National Parks

Apr 29th - 12:17pm | CivilWarBuff

That's a GOOD one, Bob!

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

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So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.