Absurd that a judge can summarily stop a rule based on some ridiculous argument about studying the environment! I carry a weapon in the park, rule or no rule. I earned the right to carry and I will. There is no increase in danger from me to you Betty H and Jim D.

The original rule change allowing for persons allowed concealed carry to enter the parks was a better compromise than this new rule allowing anyone! CCW or CCP folks are checked out. They are typically well versed in firearm use and safety.

The judge now forced the hand of the gun lobby and made things even worse.

Way to go judge.

This comment was edited to remove a gratuitous remark.

I echo the sentiments RangerLady posted in her first paragraph. It's the overreaction to an animal "threat" that will be the biggest misuse of firearms in the park.

But this is also valid: plenty of people already carry, legally or no, in the NPS. The sparsity of rangers can't police the NPS adequately.

I've long gotten over the gun issue on both sides. Harsher restrictions on legal gun ownership won't solve the gun violence problem, and having a gun is worthless when it comes to protecting you from crime. Both sides of that debate are barking at the moon. The only thing that will decrease crime and gun violence is clamping down on the illegal gun trade (which would require clamping down on private gun sales, gun shows, and disreputable dealers, something not in scope of this particular bill).

Bottom line: I won't be any more or less afraid with legal-carry in parks, and I won't visit the parks more or less because of this rule.

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My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com

Another law-abiding citizen, Jim G. "I carry a weapon in a park, rule or no rule." Way to go, Jim G. Ignore the rules you don't like and obey the ones you do.

Rick Smith

Does anybody know what the crime rate involving weapons of people who are licensed for conceal carry is? I do. It's 0. At the time I was issued my CCW, the Sheriff told me that he was processing 10 requests a day. That's a lot of people in my county that have the right to carry, and yet strangely, none of us has shot the other. I've carried a pocket knife with me every day since I was in 4th grade, I'm 45 now and I've still never stabbed anybody. I don't carry because I'm afraid. I carry because it's my right as a law abiding citizen. I'm a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and I've never even been in a brawl. Why do people think that because you're prepared, that you are spoiling for a fight? Just because you have fire extinguishers in your home, do you set your drapes on fire? The problem with Jim G. is that he told you that he carries all the time. If you met Jim in one of our National Park Areas, you would most likely think he was a nice, normal guy, and then go on about your business no worse for the experience. And no RangerLady, we're not still shooting the British, but if it becomes neccessary again, at least I will have that capability. People have this idea that nobody attacks the U.S. because of our military, and while that may be true to an extent, as a former military member, I can tell you that other countries are more afraid of our citizens because we ALL have the right to keep and bear arms. Keep America AND our parks free.

The arguement against lawful carry of guns in NPS seems to wind down that it makes it easier to catch poachers.

That is insufficient reason to restrict a constitutional right. I refuse to give up a right so rangers can assume anyone with a gun is a poacher. Catch the poachers the old fashion way with investigation and facts. Catch them with the game.

The other arguremt is just hysterical fear of people with guns. The reality is that outside the parks people carry guns lawfully and crossing a border does not turn a law abiding person into a raving lunatic and killer or people and animals.

This is the same old tired argument that blood will run in the streets that states heard when they allowed CCW. None of those fears had any validity. Surprise!, most people do not wish to kill over minor arguments. Perhaps we are better than those who fear citizens.

I visited The Grand Canyon two weeks ago. I have my CCW license but I did not take my gun into the park because it was not legal to do so. Do you think that rapists, murderers and robbers care about if it is illegal to carry a gun in the National Parks? No, they like knowing that their prey is unarmed. I am a 40 year old woman that has taken the training and passed a test to get to have the right to carry a concealed gun. If you passed me in the park or on the street you would not even know that I was carrying a gun, neither would someone wanting to do harm to me. Wouldn't it be better for a criminal to have to wonder if someone was armed? I did not go "off the beaten path" because I did not feel safe doing so. The Grand Canyon National Park is a very large area. There is no way a Park Ranger could be there to protect me everywhere I wanted to go. There were places that I wanted to go but did not want to take a chance on being a victim. You people that are so opposed to guns need to wake up and realize the Park Rangers and Police are not going to be there to protect you, they are usually there to write the report of what happened.

Ruth--

I feel badly for you if you don't feel safe any place without your weapon. How do you survive in airports, federal buildings, and other places where you cannot carry? I do admire one thing, however, that you said. You left your weapon at home because you knew it was not legal to carry in Grand Canyon. Good for you! Most other CCW licensees who post on this blog, while claiming they are law-abiding, break the law by at least claiming they carry in parks.

Rick Smith

Oh you bleeding heart liberal look at the facts.

You really don't believe that criminals are going to let a law stop them from carrying guns do you ? Of course not, so the only people who have not carried were those who were law abiding. Seems kind of backwards doesn't it.

Keep an open mind, but don't open it so much that your brain has fallen out.

Lets see... Bill of Rights #1 Freedom of Speech... lets take that one away too. Oh, it is already underway by the current administration.