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Updated: Suspect In Mount Rainier National Park Shooting Found Dead

Jan 2nd - 18:09pm | Bruce

If ONLY there were less GUNS to begin with!  This debate would be moot and perhaps Ranger Anderson would still be alive.  God rest her in peace.

Jan 2nd - 17:10pm | Anonymous

Bad people will bring guns in parks regardless of the law! 

Jan 2nd - 16:46pm | Anonymous

If he didn't stop for a tire chain check, why would he stop for a gun check?

Jan 2nd - 16:35pm | tahoma

I spoke briefly to Margaret the morning before her senseless slaying and will always remember her smiling face as she went about her busy rounds making the road safer for the holiday pilgrims. Here is her memorial page: http://www.odmp.org/officer/21076-park-ranger-margaret-anderson

Jan 2nd - 15:49pm | Chris Mellor

Having visited national parks on our visits to the USA I have great respect for the fine work the rangers do and this is very sad. We had a serious shooting massacre in a tourist park a number of years ago. This lead to a firearms ban throughout the nation. Something the USA may like to consider. It's working for us in the sense it stops the mentally ill from getting their hands on a weapon.

Jan 2nd - 15:37pm | elias

Guns do not kill. Criminals do. If we outlaw guns, criminals will be the only ones armed.  If a criminal knows that we will face weapon, he/she will look for the little sheep...

Jan 2nd - 15:19pm | Anonymous

You are right on.

Jan 2nd - 15:17pm | Anonymous

I don't think the law allowing visitors to bring guns in the parks is the problem.  Gun related violence/killings/suicides have happened in national parks long before the law to allow visitors to bring guns into parks was passed (obviously, people were bringing them in even though it was illegal).

Jan 2nd - 15:10pm | Laurie-Ann Curry

Honey, that law did not allow this situation to happen.  Anyone who has already killed someone with a gun and has a car full of weaponry, ammo, and survival gear; or who would start a fire fight with leo's would not be detered by a little ole law which says he cannot bring a gun into a National Park.

Jan 2nd - 14:16pm | Sarah

My husband and I visit and camp regularly at many National Parks. The rangers are true public servants and heroes. This is an incredibly tragic event and our thoughts are with her husband and children. Thank you to all the rangers for all you do every day to keep everyone safe.

Jan 2nd - 14:05pm | Anonymous

This proves that visitors should not be allowed to bring guns in the parks. Those who passed the law that allows guns in National Parks should feel some responsiblity for Ranger Anderson. May GOD help her family during this difficult time.

Jan 2nd - 11:39am | Another one

The irony -- it looks like she attempted to stop him out of concern for HIS safety. 

Jan 2nd - 11:25am | Linda

I am very saddened to hear about the death of Ranger Anderson, we have enjoyed parks around the USA and all the kindness and help offered by the Park Ranger's was always amazing. Prayers to the family of Ranger Anderson and all Ranger's that are out everyday doing their jobs so that we, the public, can come enjoy the beautiful park's God has given to us to use.

Jan 2nd - 04:31am | A Fellow Park Ranger

Kurt - according to several reports, the gunman was not driving out of the park after turning around.  He blew past a stop where rangers were checking vehicles for chains, and encountered Ranger Anderson's roadblock on the way up to Paradise.  The general feeling among staff at Paradise -- as expressed first-hand on some social media -- is that her actions "may have prevented a bloodbath".  Giv

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

Jan 2nd - 11:16am | Jeff Campbell

I agree with your statement 100%, I have carried a Firearm for almost 40 years and have never used it in a crime, but I have used it to save a Woman from being Raped, an LEO that made an arrest on an individual by himself that was overpowered and subdued because the criminal was bigger and armed with a Kitchen Knife.

Jan 2nd - 11:06am | Jeff Campbell

Do the Park rangers own the National Parks ?, would banning guns from National parks stop criminals from bringing Guns into the Parks ?, Should Park Rangers be allowed to carry firearms ?. You need to ask yourself these questions before you jump on the Ban Firearms band wagon.

Boulder Blocking West Entrance Road Keeps Yellowstone National Park Crews Busy

Jan 2nd - 09:33am | Nordic Girl

 Love the caption of something went bump in the night. Why not leave it and see if visitors would like to take a crack at it with a sledgehammer for $2.00 a try. Make you some money that way! ;-)

Jan 1st - 17:14pm | Kirby Adams

If that's the guy that pushed it off the road, I'd like to shake his hand...or perhaps not.

Jan 1st - 16:49pm | Anonymous

 

Jan 1st - 15:37pm | Barky

Holy crap that's a big boulder!!

Ranger Shot And Killed At Mount Rainier National Park

Jan 2nd - 05:14am | Anonymous

What a brave and loyal NPS ranger-medic and most importantly a Mom! I am disheartened by this event and truly concerned about justice being served to her and to the community. I can't imagine what it must be like for Mrs. Andersons family. I am also a medic, NPS volunteer and a Mom of a lil hiker. I can't imagine losing the opportunity to keep exploring.

Jan 1st - 21:54pm | Meg

According to my local news tonight (I live near Tacoma), the "person of interest" in this case was also involved in a shooting at a New Year's Eve party in Seattle, and his car was full of survival gear when he abandoned it and fled on foot after the shooting in the park. I hope the heck they catch him soon.  This is scary.

Jan 1st - 20:32pm | imtnbke

Excellent reporting, Kurt. Very professional: informative, dispassionate, and well written. I went to journalism school and we learned that this is how reporters are supposed to write. Keep up the good work.

Jan 1st - 19:34pm | dave

very sad.....death is bad enough, but to be murdered cannot be described. it is still my strong belief that if you take someone's life on purpose you should yourself receive the death sentence. swiftly.

Jan 1st - 17:25pm | Anonymous

R.I.P. Ranger Anderson.  Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

Jan 1st - 17:16pm | Julie Trevelyan

Horrible. This kind of news always makes me a bit more fearful for the safety of all my ranger friends at some of the great parks. This kind of thing is always such a tragedy, but it seems even more shocking when it happens in our national parks. Nowhere is sacred anymore.

Jan 1st - 16:29pm | Anonymous

Additional sad information is that the ranger has died, and been identified as Margaret Anderson.

Jan 1st - 16:28pm | Anonymous

Terribly sad.  The news reports that the ranger, a woman with two children aged 4 and 2, died.  I really hope they catch this perp and put him away for life. 

Jan 1st - 15:47pm | sarah cook

I just read that the Washington State Patrol has confirmed that the ranger died.  She was Margaret Anderson, age 34, mother of two.  Evidently the shooting happened around 10:30 am, but the shooter prevented responders from reaching the injured ranger until about 12:45 pm.  Very sad.

National Park Service Reviewing West Virginia Site For Possible National Park and Preserve

Jan 1st - 16:46pm | Anonymous

If you look New River Gorge National River and Gauley National Recreation Area (both in WV) you will see both allow hunting and fishing.  In fact when I lived there the Parks were becoming some of the few public hunting areas left.  Hunting clubs and private owners were tying up much of the land.  Rangers and management at that time seemed to be pro hunting. 

Mark of the Grizzly

Jan 1st - 16:18pm | Lee Dalton

But Steve, any time I've entered a park area -- even where hazards are few and grizzlies far away, I've always been handed about a ton of paper.  Much of it containing warnings of all kinds. Is this a case of leading the horses to water, but . . . .

Jan 1st - 13:51pm | Steve Nelson

As I said in a previous post some time ago, the NPS should increase safety outreach on a variety of issues with a variety of cheap methods, such as a safety page on their website and printed materials visitors would get at entrances and lodges.  At Glacier in Montana, the rangers drill bear safety into your heads and there don't seem to be as many incidents as at Yellowstone.  (At least the ran

Jan 1st - 13:14pm | Anonymous

I have been telling folks, since early 2000's, that mountain biking and trail running have been disturbing the bears, habituating them to us and our dogs, which run alongside many mountain bikers and trail runners. Earlier tracked movements of Black Bears told us they were trying to avoid the mountain biking activities.

2011 Visitation to National Park Units In Alaska Up About 2 Percent Over 2010 Figures

Jan 1st - 15:38pm | Barky

I wish it was easier to get to the remoter NPS sites in the state. I've tried to make plans in the past, but was stymied. It's a shame more outfitters, who do such a great job with hunting & fishing, don't step up for park trips as well.

Thanks To All Our Readers

Jan 1st - 13:38pm | Steve Nelson

I think it is amazing and good that there is that much interest in the national parks as evidenced by almost 1 million unique hits on one web site. I was expecting you to say that there were about 300,000 uniques and therefore a lot of hard core people were visiting.

Jan 1st - 12:38pm | Kurt Repanshek

More than 1.2 million visits, nearly 950,000 uniques.

Jan 1st - 12:34pm | Steve Nelson

Is that 1 million hits, or 1 million views by different addresses?

Dec 30th - 19:18pm | Bruce

By all means, keep plugging away please.   ;-)

Dec 30th - 10:29am | Dick G.

 Kurt-- We all appreciate the hard work you all are doing. Really enjoy reading about our National Parks!! Great respite during the working daily routine!!

Supporters Of a Mount St. Helens National Park Want National Park Service To Study That Possibility

Jan 1st - 12:22pm | y_p_w

A national park within or bordering a large Forest Service area is hardly unusual. That's the case with many of our major National Parks in the west, including Grand Canyon, Yosemite, SEKI, Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake, Mt Rainier, Olympic, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone. Canyonlands and Arches are surrounded by BLM land. They all have to have cooperative agreements.

Dec 30th - 12:08pm | Anonymous

Changing Mt. St. Helens directly to a National Park is a misguided and uninformed idea.  The current monument was designed to be within a larger Forest Service area. Transferring to a Nat. Park would create a morass of intertwined USFS/Nat.

Pruning the Parks: Castle Pinckney National Monument (1933-1956)

Jan 1st - 01:27am | CMDavis

The Ghost Castle at Charleston Harbor, Castle Pinckney , holds a place in my memory- a small place I must admit.  Being born in South Carolina, and having beloved relatives who lived their entire lives there made many things only found in SC dear to me as Im certain they must be to many residence of SC.

Check Out These National Park Photographers

Dec 31st - 10:08am | Tony Bynum

Thanks for including me, that's some fine company!  You do great work Kurt, keep it up!  here's to an even better 2012!  

The Gate Lodges Of Acadia National Park: Rockefeller's Little Castles

Dec 31st - 07:16am | Angela Faeth

Aimee Beal does a wonderful job of writing about the history of the gate lodges in Acadia National Park. When visiting national parks I to discover the story behind the parks structures and Acadia is rich in stories. Thank you sharing your knowledge of these beautiful gates.

At New River Gorge National River, an Iconic Bridge Attracts Suicide Jumpers

Dec 30th - 23:09pm | Alicia lauteren

I would like to start off by saying that I am terribly sorry for everyone of your losses... I too have lost a family member to suicide fairly recently. He had planned a three week what we thought was a vacation which ended on this bridge... He was a great uncle and a wonderful man that will be missed very much....

Gone and Mostly Forgotten: 26 Abolished National Parks

Dec 30th - 19:24pm | Anonymous

One place that is not a national park and should be:  Mt. St. Helens.

Dec 30th - 14:11pm | Anonymous

Any reason they don't get rid of Devils Postpile N.M.and just turn it over to the Forest Service?

Dec 30th - 10:07am | Renee

I'm a docent at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and had no idea that, that area had once been a national park!  Just a bit more history to add to my talks.

The Grand Canyon Reader

Dec 30th - 11:21am | Steve H

I love this book.  Because of your review I got it for Christmas.  Really smartly edited.  Thanks for adding to my love of the National Parks.

Persistent Pedestrians: Black Bears in Big Bend National Park

Dec 30th - 11:11am | Ramon Holguin

 I am always fascinated at the durability the Big Bend bears possess. I saw my first bear  sighting in 2005 while hiking Pine Canyon. A mama bear sleeping behind a boulder next to the trail stopped me and my friend from finishing the short hike to the end of the canyon.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

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This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

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.