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Guns in the Parks: A Bad Idea

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    Senator George Allen of Virginia, you might say, is leaving Congress with his guns a-blazing.
    The Republican, who was ousted by Democrat Jim Webb, evidently has introduced legislation that would allow gun owners to bring their weapons into national parks, as long as the states the parks are located in don't prohibit the practice.
    Mike Kinsey, writing for Ohioans For Concealed Carry, says, "The arbitrary prohibition of your right to self-defense in a National Park needs to end."
    "Your life is not worth less while visiting one of our country’s beautiful parks than it is anywhere else you may be," argues Kinsey. "Personally, I believe that lonely wilderness trails may be one of the places that I would most want to have my self-defense firearm."
    Great. That's all we need, a backcountry full of pistol-packing hikers ready to take you on. This guy seems a little over the edge to me.
    "...any location that is known to be frequented by tourists would probably be very attractive to criminals," he goes on. "Tourists are generally carrying a lot of money and are unfamiliar with their surroundings. I am certainly not a criminal mastermind. If I can see that this environment makes one more vulnerable to violent attack, I am certain those with less scruples have realized it as well."
    Gee, Mike, we seem to have made it into the 21st Century without a spate of backcountry holdups (although there were a handful of stagecoach holdups back in the early 1900s in Yellowstone).
    Do we really want to legalize toting guns around in national parks? Frankly, I'd feel safer in the backcountry knowing that guns are prohibited rather than worrying that the next person I encounter might be packing heat.

Comments

Mr. Povich, I'll meet you half way on the issue, since you have not produced any documented facts about your position except your wind bag opinions. Let me say this, lets plant trees together in the parks, and you can plant (or leave) your water pistol at home, then we both will be doing something creative and constructive for the living environment... instead criticizing each other. It's not my nature to wait in the wings and be ready to ponce on someone who disagrees with me so vehemently...like you!

Snowbird: "I'll meet you half way on the issue, since you have not produced any documented facts about your position except your wind bag opinions." What don't you understand about the information I've provided? I've documented the location and the sources. You've offered nothing except biased opinion. If you choose to not believe the CDC (and FBI) as well as the researchers I've listed that's your problem. I provided data. Try to disprove it. Snowbird: "lets plant trees together in the parks, and you can plant (or leave) your water pistol at home" That's a good chuckle. Let's start at the sites where folks are murdered in the parks because they are unable to denfend themselves. Water pistol, huh? Another good one. Snowbird: "we both will be doing something creative and constructive for the living environment... instead criticizing each other." This discussion is about a person's God-given and Constitutionally affirmed right to self-defense has nothing to do with planting a tree. You and the rest of the vehemently anti-gun gang insist, entirely erroneously and persistently maliciously, that lawful exercise of the right to self defense will somehow be detrimental to the existence of the National Park system and to your ability to enjoy it. You're flat-out wrong. I've provided data and sources that prove you're misguided. John Lott has proven guns save lives. The facts are that concealed carry permit holders do not commit crime - whether in a park or anywhere else. Nor do they shot up flora and fauna. Snowbird: "It's not my nature to wait in the wings and be ready to ponce on someone who disagrees with me so vehemently...like you!" You don't have to wait for anything. If I see misrepresentations and silliness like you've posted I'll call you or anyone else on it. That's all. You simply will not find data to support any of your claims. There are none. I will vehemently defend my rights, however. One more time: read John Lott, Gary Kleck, Don Kates, CDC Mortality data and FBI crime statistics. You'll see who commits the crimes and who prevents them. Short of posting the entire data sets here I think it's time for you to do some research.

Mr. Povich: I worked for a number of years as surgical tech, I know something about the deadly carnage that guns display in are environment...especially what it has done to are youth in the inner cities. I rather see these kids talking to someone in the National Parks, or to someone in U.S. Forestry Service and learning to develope skills in planting trees and caring for the environment instead of listening someone bragging how important it is bear arms and love the barrel of a shotgun then a living tree.

Kurt-- That's a new one for me. I have discussed gun control with many who believe in the right to carry weapons. I have never heard, ever, anyone claim that he/she believes that this right is God-given. We are breaking new ground here in the debate on weapons in the parks.

Snowbird: "I worked for a number of years as surgical tech, I know something about the deadly carnage that guns display in are environment...especially what it has done to are youth in the inner cities" I repeat, look at the statistics. Yes, there are firearm deaths in cities. I'm familiar with mayors' rants about cities being "awash with guns." The problem is these deaths are the result of drug and drug-related crimes and gang violence. There are no lawful concealed carry permit holders involved in any of these deaths. Do you understand what I'm saying? These crimes are committed by criminals who will continue to commit crimes regardless of "the law." Concealed carry permit holders are not engaged in any of these shootings. On average fewer that 1% of concealed carry permits have been revoked and usually for non-firearm related offenses. Snowbird: "I rather see these kids talking to someone in the National Parks, or to someone in U.S. Forestry Service and learning to develope skills in planting trees and caring for the environment instead of listening someone bragging how important it is bear arms and love the barrel of a shotgun then a living tree." You must be intentionally ignorant of any facts in the matter and persist in engaging in silly, anti-gun stereotyping. Let's take guns from the cops while we're at it, then. They seem to have a problem lately with shooting people on a regular basis - both city cops and Park Service cops. Isn't that a danger to the public? If we don't need guns and you think planting trees is the way to go, let's give law enforcement a holster full of seedlings. You know, a kind of legal Johny Appleseed. I'm sure that'd eliminate all crime and hostility and make everyone feel warm and fuzzy. Because, as you insist, we don't need our "six shell pea shooter." I don't brag and have no need to, I tell the truth despite some rather interesting assertions on your part. You make false claims and stereotypical assumptions and refuse to look at the statistical and factual proof.I still challenge you to back your claims with facts instead of silly innuendo. C'mon, you can do better than that. Try it. Just once.

Mr. Povich, how about chilling out for once and plant a few trees...maybe you will feel better. Okay? Have a nice day!

Snowbird: "how about chilling out for once and plant a few trees...maybe you will feel better." I don't think I'm the one who needs chillin'! I must confess, though, I just went out and to the woods and cut down a tree. But I promise to replace it! Snowbird: "Have a nice day!" I am, knowing that you've proven yet again the anti-gun folks have nothing but emotional, irrational and unsubstantial arguments to put forth on their behalf. 8^)

Mr. Povich, it would nice if you would plant two trees, one that you just cut down cynically, and please plant the other in memory of the young man that was shot today by accident...check the national morgue registry! Question, don't you ever come up for air?

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