New rule lifts ban on firearms in national parks

[Guest guest]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081206/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/guns_national_pa

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New rule lifts ban on firearms in national parks

By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press Writer Daly, Associated

Press Writer – 1 hr 17 mins ago

WASHINGTON – People will soon be able to carry concealed, loaded guns

in most national parks and wildlife refuges.

The Bush administration said Friday it is overturning a 25-year-old

federal rule that severely restricts loaded guns in national parks.

Under a rule to take effect in January, visitors will be able to

carry a loaded gun into a park or wildlife refuge — but only if the

person has a permit for a concealed weapon and if the state where the

park or refuge is located also allows concealed firearms.

The new rule goes further than a draft proposal issued last spring

and would allow concealed weapons even in parks located in states

that explicitly ban the carrying of guns in state parks. Some states

allow concealed weapons but also ban guns from parks.

" If you can carry (a gun) on Main Street, you are allowed to carry in

a national park, " said Paolino. a spokesman for the Interior

Department.

The Interior Department rule overturns a Reagan-era regulation that

has restricted loaded guns in parks and wildlife refuges. The

previous regulation required that firearms be unloaded and placed

somewhere that is not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk.

Assistant Interior Secretary Lyle Laverty said the new rule respects

a long tradition of states and the federal government working

together on natural resource issues.

The regulation allows individuals to carry concealed firearms in

federal parks and wildlife refuges to the same extent they can

lawfully do so under state law, Laverty said, adding that the

approach is in line with rules adopted by the federal Bureau of Land

Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Those agencies let visitors

carry weapons consistent with applicable federal and state laws.

The National Rifle Association hailed the rule change, which will

take effect next month before President-elect Barack Obama takes

office.

" We are pleased that the Interior Department recognizes the right of

law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families while

enjoying America's national parks and wildlife refuges, " said Chris

W. , the NRA's chief lobbyist.

The rule will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners on federal

lands and make federal law consistent with the state where the lands

are located, said. The NRA led efforts to change gun regulations

they called inconsistent and unclear.

A group representing park rangers, retirees and conservation

organizations said the rule change will lead to confusion for

visitors, rangers and other law enforcement agencies.

" Once again, political leaders in the Bush administration have

ignored the preferences of the American public by succumbing to

political pressure, in this case generated by the National Rifle

Association, " said Bill Wade, president of the Coalition of National

Park Service Retirees.

" This regulation will put visitors, employees and precious resources

of the National Park System at risk. We will do everything possible

to overturn it and return to a commonsense approach to guns in

national parks that has been working for decades, " Wade said.

The park rule will be published in the Federal Register early next

week and take effect 30 days later, well before Obama takes office

Jan. 20. Overturning the rule could take months or even years, since

it would require the new administration to restart the lengthy rule-

making process.

Nick Shapiro, a spokesman for President-elect Barack Obama's

transition team, said no decision had been made on the gun rule.

" President-elect Obama will review all eleventh-hour regulations and

will address them once he is president, " he said.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, hailed the new rule. Crapo and Sen. Max

Baucus, D-Mont., had organized letters to Interior Secretary Dirk

Kempthorne complaining about the gun restrictions. The letters were

signed by half the Senate — 41 Republicans and nine Democrats.

" I congratulate Secretary Kempthorne for taking this stand. The rule

as it has come out is what we asked for with regard to handguns, "

Crapo said. " It's a very, very significant improvement. "

Crapo called the current rule confusing and complex and said

it " literally resulted in different standards as you traveled through

the same state. "

But Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the new rule was a mistake.

" The Reagan-era rules have stood the test of time and make our

national parks safe for all who visit them, " Feinstein said. " The

Bush administration changes will make our national parks more

dangerous and will upset the delicate balance that exists between

park visitors and wildlife. "

Interior spokesman Paolino said the rule would not affect a ban on

guns in federal buildings. Guns will still be prohibited in national

icons such as Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty, he said.

Guns also will be banned in visitor centers and other buildings at

national parks.

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Associated Press Writer Dina Cappiello contributed to this story

___

On the Net:

Interior Department: http://www.doi.gov

National Parks Conservation Association: http://www.npca.org

[Guest guest]

My opinion: States should still be able to override to ban if they have a law on the books, especially if it were a non-national state park..