Guns in National Parks

NPS RETIREES OPPOSE PROPOSAL CHANGING COMMON-SENSE GUN RULES IN NATIONAL PARKS

WASHINGTON, D.C.///April 29, 2008///The 640-member Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR) today issued the following statement on a rule being proposed to allow more guns in U.S. national parks.

CNPSR Executive Council Chair Bill Wade said: “We think the proposed rule is manufactured and driven politically to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. Data show that parks are among the safest places to be in this country. Moreover, we believe it will create more problems than it can possibly fix. It is likely to alter, over time, the friendly atmosphere visitors look forward to in parks, where they go to get away from the day to day pressures and influences of their everyday lives, including worry about guns.

How many visitors want to be concerned about whether the person next to them during a ranger-guided walk, or that shares a backcountry campsite, has a concealed, loaded gun? Reliance on impulsive use of guns in the face of perceived threats or disputes, such as in campgrounds will increase the risk to visitors and employees. Impulsive uses of guns in response to being startled by or by perceived threats from wildlife will increase the risks to wildlife and to visitors, such as from wounded wildlife or shots fired at wildlife -- such as in campground -- that miss and connect with nearby campers.

Administrative requirements related to this rule in parks will become complicated. Issues of reciprocity of authorities for guns between states will have to be sorted out. Decisions about how to keep guns out of administrative and concession buildings will involve signing, further cluttering the developed areas; and potentially even security screening.

The existing regulation works just fine, and has for decades. This is a proposed rule that deserves to be shot down!”

The proposed regulation can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648053d422