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Senators Pushing To Allow Concealed Weapons in National Parks

Jun 29th - 09:54am | Terry

Dear Lone Hiker. I live in Cody wyoming and something that big city folks do not understand because they have been brainwashed for years now is that the honest concealed weapons permit holders are not your enemy! These folks have been through complete background checks and are found to be quality citizens and are the most decent patriotic folks I have ever known.

Comment Period For Revised Gun Regulations for National Parks About to Close

Jun 29th - 09:09am | Bob Janiskee

J Longstreet might be the right guy to ask a question that has bugged me for a long time. Which should it be: Pickett's Charge, or Longstreet's Assault? The NPS can't seem to make up its mind. :-)

Jun 28th - 21:42pm | J Longstreet

Let's see what Justice Scalia actually said in the Supreme Court opinion (http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/scotus-op-heller0626200...) that's relevant to regulation of guns in national parks.

Jun 27th - 17:02pm | Joel Sechrist

Currently I am employed in the Philippines. I love the United States and miss it terribly. It's odd to me that going through a country that has complete gun restrictions like the Philippines, I get frisked at any entry to malls, movies, Starbucks, or virtually anywhere. I saw a school yard that had a HUGE sign that said "no gun zone".

Jun 27th - 07:57am | Lepanto

Bob Janiskee is exactly right. Read the decision. The identification in the Scalia Decision of government buildings and schools as places guns can be excluded is clearly intended in the Decision as the opportunity to provide carefully targeted regulations for good public policy reasons.

Jun 27th - 06:19am | Bob Janiskee

Frank, let's make it clear to Traveler readers WHICH debate is over. The Supreme Court ruling clarifies that the Second Amendment extends to individuals, not just to militia, the right to bear arms. The debate over that matter (individuals vs. militia) is over. But you didn't mention, Frank, that the Supreme Court ruling didn't sweep away all restrictions on the bearing of arms.

Jun 27th - 04:53am | FrankC

The Supreme Court has ruled that the 2nd Amendment protects an individual right. 67% of Americans also believe it is an individual right. The debate is over. It is time to return constitutional civil liberties to those traveling through and residing in national parks.

Jun 27th - 00:39am | allan samuels

I am retired peace officer. I am authorized to carry concealed weapons anywhere in the US. Is it illeagal to carry in national parks?

Jun 26th - 18:11pm | Fred Miller

You knew I'd have to comment on this one. With today's Supreme Court decision, are we sure we want to try to BAN handguns someplace?? I just checked; there are more than 15,000 comments posted about the proposed rule change. I'm sure all will agree that the vast majority of the posters SUPPORT the rule change.

“10 Best National Parks”? National Geographic, You Have Got to be Kidding!

Jun 29th - 08:30am | Bob Janiskee

Sabattis, this is what I said in the original version of the article: My criteria say that Santa Fe National Historic Trail shouldn’t even have been made a national park, for crying out loud, much less given a place among the ten best. So you see, I did originally give SAFE credit for being a national park in that go-around.

Jun 29th - 08:17am | Sabattis

Interesting.... I could swear that you had also pointed out that Santa Fe NHT is not a "Park" in the original post - you just put it further down your list of critiques. Oh well, not a big deal.

Jun 29th - 06:19am | Bob Janiskee

Sabattis, thanks for the reminder about Santa Fe National Historic Trail. My weaselspeak excuse is that I was lulled by the fact that the trail has a code (SAFE) like a regular national park does. Thank goodness you were not similarly stupefied. If you will look at the article again, you'll note that I went back in and revised it to take care of that little problem with the trail.

Jun 28th - 22:04pm | Sabattis

Great post, Bob. Once upon a time, the National Geographic Society had a missions "to increase and diffuse geographical knowledge." Unfortunately, as almost any editor these days can tell you - making a "list" or a "rankings" is a quick-and-easy way to generate copy. And it looks like National Geographic has decided to go the quick-and-easy-route. Alagnak Wild River?????

Jun 28th - 11:07am | Todd

How come Rocky Mountain National Park never gets the credit it deserves? I'm a guide at Grand Canyon but I'd take RMNP any day over GCNP. I realize I'm in the minority here, but still...

Jun 28th - 10:15am | Lepanto

Bob, 1) you are right about the "Alagnak Wild River," but I regret to say that the National Park Service is partly responsible for perpetuating this problem.

Jun 28th - 09:55am | Barky

I haven't seen the article myself, but if what you say is true, and they made a Top Ten list without any published criteria, then shame on them.

Jun 28th - 09:12am | vink80

GIVE IT TO 'EM THE MAGAZINE USED TO BE A COLLECTORS ITEM ---- NOW YOU CANNOT GIVE THEM AWAY I HAD 50 + YEARS OF THEM AND HAULED THEM TO THE DUMP WHEN I SOLD MY HOUSE ----- NO ONE WANTED THEM. ----- SEEMS THAT THEY HAVE LOST SOMETHING !!!!!!!!

Jun 28th - 08:47am | Ron Scofield

That's the ticket. Take on the institution. Stick it to the "man". I have been reading your articles for some time now and have always found them informative and educational. I will take the word of a 44 year pro as to where I should visit. It feels wonderful to vent doesn't it?

Park History: Olympic National Park

Jun 29th - 08:19am | Bob Janiskee

Thanks for the feedback. Olympic is a truly special place that deserves all the praise it gets. I'm curious; have high fuel prices caused you to cut back on your RV travel lately? Do you think there will be lots fewer RVers in the national parks this summer?

Jun 29th - 08:00am | Paul

We are retired and do some travel in our RV. The summer of 2005, we did volunteer campground hosting at Sol Duc. Being from south Texas, we were truly amazed and fell in love with Olympic National Park. While there, we visited the Hoh Rain Forest, Lake Quinault, Hurricane Ridge, and other areas including, the coastline with its seastacks.

Oglala Sioux Just Might Reclaim Southern Half of Badlands National Park

Jun 28th - 22:10pm | Lone Hiker

Phil, with all due respect, yours is one of the most ridiculous statements that was ever posted on this site that wasn't attributed to me. The protection of the parks is in the capable hands of the NPS? The protection of the parks, sir, is directly related to whatever economic and graft-related engine drives the cesspool that resides in the houses of Congress. Period.

Jun 26th - 22:52pm | fhasti

Hopefully but not likely our government will do the right thing and return what was wrongfully taken in the name of suppression.

Jun 26th - 11:58am | Random Walker

There are many instances throughout our park system where this hubris has been confronted and resolved. It is time the NPS as a whole recognizes the indigenous people rights and joins them in the caretaking of Our National Parks.

Park Advocates Rallying Around Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Jun 28th - 22:08pm | Sabattis

I'll chime in as well that Theodore Roosevelt perhaps takes the prize as the "hidden jewel" of the National Park System. All in one place you can experience the bison of Yellowstone, the Badlands of South Dakota, a petrified forest and meandering rivers in a beautiful, empty, landscape...

Jun 27th - 21:08pm | Merryland

I'd have to agree with you Barky... probably my favorite too. I rode my bike around the loop road within the park and have never seen so much wildlife (in numbers and variety) in my 45 years. Going back in early August this summer and bringing along my son this time. There's nothing like the sound of bison breath outside your tent in the early morning... coyotes howling as the sun sets...

Jun 27th - 18:27pm | Barky

I've been to over 100 NPS sites, and I have to say, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is my favorite. I put it over Denali and Yosemite which, although incredible beautiful and wonderful places in their own right, have crowding and access issues that make them trying at times. TRNP, on the other hand, is beautiful and wonderful, but it's also off the beaten path.

Celebrating Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road

Jun 28th - 22:06pm | Sabattis

I'm interested to see (and quite pleased as well) the NPT Blog have this laudatory and interesting post on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. I wonder though - is it possible to imagine any place or any circumstances were a similar "top National Park experience" should be constructed today?

Jun 27th - 10:18am | Anonymous

My family was out to see the sights last year in the hear wave... We were disappointed only in that it was 95 degrees at 8,000 but the views and the experience was breathtaking... I took 3 teenager (17, 18 and 16) along and they liked it better than Yellowstone. Anytime you can get 3 teenagers to be in awe, it is a good trip...

Jun 27th - 07:07am | Mookie

I have a love-it/hate-it relationship with the GTTS Road. Love it, because it is absolutely spectacular, for all the reasons Kurt mentions above. The vistas, the easy access to hiking, and the convenience to get from St. Mary's to Lake McDonald without having to drive 2 hours out of your way.

Yellowstone National Park Bison Unhappy With Photo Shoot Tosses Pennsylvania Boy

Jun 28th - 16:28pm | Cindy K

These parents have moved into first place for the dumb moron award of the year.

Jun 28th - 13:17pm | Betty H

People who are totally irresponsible should be punished. A hefty fine is in order ! Even if you don't have any common sense, there are warnings everywhere. People cannot be protected from their stupidity but they sure as heck can pay for it !!! Wildlife are wild and should not have to pay the ultimate price for stupid humans.

Jun 28th - 10:51am | KDoyle

The parents are complete idiots and should be arrested and prosecuted for child endangerment. They should also be sent to reading remediation so they can understand all the posted signs warning against getting too close to the WILD animals.

Jun 27th - 21:29pm | jsmacdonald

The bison have had a very rough time of it; they were upset in the winter. Don't be surprised if we see more of this; it's been a very traumatic time between the slaughter and the hard winter.

Jun 27th - 21:02pm | Merryland

The moron parade through our treasured National Parks continues. These parents should be put on a month of volunteer duty, wearing a sandwich board and walking up and down the park roads warning of the dangers of getting too close to wildlife (and the dangers of bad parenting).

Jun 27th - 20:10pm | Fred Miller

Why can't people use their heads? I'm glad this child wasn't more seriously injured. This is the kind of irresponsibility that eventually ruins a visit to the Parks for the rest of us. How long before someone decides that we have to stay 100 yards away from bison too, not just from bears?

Former NPS Director George Hartzog Passes

Jun 28th - 15:48pm | Jim Pepper

RE: Bill Brown and George Hartzog: Kurt, thank you for your thoughts about Director Hartzog. I thought you would want to see the email exchange with Bill Brown, now of Gustavus AK, which I will paste, below.

Jun 28th - 10:56am | Rob Mutch

Thanks for this write-up Kurt. In addition to the PDF document of G. Hartzog's oral history interview you link to above, we have his oral history in HTML/web page format, as well. http://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/online-library/hartzog-oral-history/i...

National Park History: Big Bend National Park

Jun 28th - 12:31pm | ShaneA

Great Write Up... Visit www.bigbendchat.com for a wealth of information on Big Bend and the entire West Texas Trans Pecos Big Bend Region...

National Park Quiz 8: Firsts

Jun 27th - 21:29pm | Merryland

They have all those funny designations so they can justify hunting, harvesting, drilling, and mining in many of them. What bugs me is "Historical Park" as opposed to "Historic Site".

Jun 26th - 01:36am | MRC

Tough one. I got my worst result of all quizzes so far (6+1), and I kind of cheated at question 6 by looking up and confirming my first idea. Thanks again. @Rangertoo: Won't do. At least the National Monuments must be kept as such, because according to the Antiquities Act of 1906 the president can only proclaim National Monuments without the Congress.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Won't Ban ORV Use, But Will Restrict Travel

Jun 27th - 15:20pm | scooter

Would like to clarify and add that the first paragraph above is my writing, the rest of the disertation of facts was that of another distinguished gentleman, I stongly agree and support his heart felt thoughts. Thank you for considering this post

Jun 27th - 11:26am | scooter

Rangertoo, with all due respect, you are mis-informed. The Consent Decree and how it was obtained violates NEPA, Federal Admistative Proceedures Act, REG-NEG Policies, US Code 16 Chapter 1, Sect 429 Enabling Legislation, Article 4 Section 3 of the United States Constitution

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Jun 27th - 15:03pm | Scotty

Random Walker, Please let me start by saying you are well spoken and I respect your opinion. This is the healthy banter that gets us to look at all sides of the issues.

Jun 27th - 13:04pm | Random Walker

"Guns in the Parks. Do We Need Them?" Not in the least... As a kid, you could find me and my cousin walking down the road with our rifles as long as we were tall. As a teen there was a rifle, shotgun and fishing pole on the rack in the inside back window of my truck. I was in the military for four years as a young adult.

Jun 27th - 10:31am | Scotty

I have a couple of comments.

Bodies of Three Mexican Nationals Found in Big Bend National Park

Jun 26th - 22:43pm | ShaneA

To the author of: "No sympathy here, they were breaking the law. Darwin candidates." They were human beings, Gods children. Flesh and blood. Men with wives and children - whose papa is never coming home again. People trying to better themselves, and in this case trying to reach one of their wifes who was reportedly giving child birth and having problems.

National Park History: Prince William Forest Park Was a Top Secret Spy Training School

Jun 26th - 13:45pm | Anonymous

Yeah, few visitors because no one has heard of it. I am in my 30s and grew up just south of Baltimore. This park is new to me. My family spent time camping everywhere in the mid-Atlantic but not Prince William. I am excited to visit it for the first time!!!

Jun 26th - 13:21pm | Phil

Another great article on the history of the NPS. Keep it up!

Mount Rainier National Park Officials Mulling Future of Carbon River Road

Jun 26th - 11:36am | Random Walker

Having grown up in the shadow of "The Mountain" I have enjoyed the many times this road has been closed by Mother Nature.

Yellowstone National Park Relocates the 45th Parallel

Jun 26th - 05:40am | Bob Janiskee

If you want something really weird, contemplate the fact that the Northern Hemisphere 45th parallel most emphatically does NOT mark the halfway point to the North Pole! The actual halfway point is about ten miles north of the 45th parallel. That's because Earth is not a perfect sphere. Due to its rotation about its axis, Earth bulges a bit and is actually an oblate spheroid.

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