Ready, Aim, Fire: Congress Votes To Allow Guns In Parks
Thursday, May 21, 2009
"Packing heat" soon may be legal in California's national parks. Congress has voted to allow people to carry loaded guns in national parks. The bill is a disappointment for gun-control advocates like retired park ranger Andy Ringgold. He says these parks are some of the safest places in California and that allowing loaded guns there is just asking for trouble.
"There's no justification, there's no data that shows that parks are unsafe places or that personal possession of firearms in parks is going to make visitors any safer."
Supporters of the gun measure say it upholds Second Amendment rights and gives Americans the ability to protect themselves everywhere in their states, including on public lands.
Bill Wade, with the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, says the bill goes even farther than a Bush administration rule that was struck down in court. That rule allowed permit-holders to carry concealed weapons.
"This amendment would allow any firearm to be carried in a national park or wildlife refuge as long as it's consistent with state law. So, if a state allows shotguns to be carried openly, then that would be the situation in national parks as well."
President Obama has indicated he wants to sign the legislation before Memorial Day.
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