The National Park Service did not propose abandoning long-standing rules requiring that firearms be unloaded and stored while visiting park areas; current leadership of the NPS opposes such a change. The coalition of nearly 700 retired NPS employees, including seven former directors, opposes the proposed change. And the Association of National Park Rangers opposes the proposed change. The subject proposal is the response by political appointees in the Department of the Interior to pressure brought by the National Rifle Association to advance their beliefs in the waning days of this administration.
Many park rangers own guns, and I’m sure many agree with the argument that it is “common sense” to permit possession of loaded firearms in rural Montana. This proposal, however, is not just about Montana n it is about extending the right to carry loaded firearms into over 390 park areas throughout the nation. Places like the geyser basins of Yellowstone, the Gettysburg Battlefield, and ancient Indian ruins in the Southwest, are revered as among the most significant sites in our country. And they have long been among that select list of places where our society agrees that loaded firearms are not appropriate. This restriction has stood the test of some 80 years and is understood by visitors, including gun owners and hunters.
Doug Morris recently retired from a 40-year career with the National Park Service and currently serves on the Executive Council for the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. He writes from Victor.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)