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NPCA Backs Call For Ban On Assault Weapons

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Four years after it lobbied hard against a proposal to allow national park visitors to arm themselves with firearms, the National Parks Conservation Association is backing a move to block assault weapons sales.

NPCA President Tom Kiernan last week called U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's legislation to ban the "sale, transfer, importation, and manufacturing" of a wide range of assault weapons one step towards making national parks safer for visitors and wildlife.

The senator's legislation if signed into law would not only ban 150 specifically-named assault weapons, but also "an additional group of weapons that accept detachable ammunition magazines and have one or more military characteristics," said Mr. Kiernan in a prepared statement. "The bill would also ban high-capacity ammunition magazines. If passed, this bill would apply to our national parks. The National Parks Conservation Association strongly supports it and encourages Congress to vote for it.

"Nearly four years ago, a law was enacted allowing guns in national parks, specifically authorizing people to carry firearms into national parks to the extent allowed under state law. We aggressively opposed the 'guns in parks' law which made it legal for people to carry assault weapons into many national park units. Some states also allow for open carry of such weapons," he went on. “National parks are places where families, wildlife watchers, recreationists, international travelers and so many others go to enjoy the scenic beauty, historical meaning and cultural diversity of our national heritage.

"Assault weapons have no place in the National Park System unless they are in a museum. We applaud and support Senator Feinstein’s effort to make our national parks safer for all visitors and wildlife.”

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Yesterday, after ec questioned my honesty regarding having been shot at while flying, I emailed the Experimental Aircraft Association, FAA safety office and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association with a question. So far, only the EAA has replied. Here are the emails:

THE QUESTION:

I have a question that I hope is unusual. Do you know of any instances in which aircraft flying in the United States recently have been hit by gunfire from the ground?

Back in the late 1950's when I was a student and young private pilot in Ohio, aircraft I was flying were hit on two occasions by rifle fire from the ground. Both times, I was on downwind for landing when the plane was hit. The first time it happened, I landed and told my instructor about a strange noise. He knew immediately what it was and we found a bullet hole through the right wing of the J-3. About a year later, while flying a T-craft at another airfield about 20 miles from the first incident, a bullet came through the fuselage just behind the right seat.

So I'm wondering if I'm a freak of some kind, or if this happens from time to time.

THE REPLY:

Good Morning Lee!

Thank you for contacting EAA. You are right, it is a little bit of an unusual question, but I am glad you asked. After receiving your question, I contact the staff in our Government Advocacy department, hoping that since they have access to numerous legal/case databases that they may have some answers. What I learned was absolutely astonishing.

According to the Government staff, there a numerous cases of pilots who have received gun fire from the ground while flying over United States soil. The gentleman I spoke with informed me that these occurrences are particularly common around airports. He said the reason for this is most likely disgruntled home owners near the airports who are fed up with the constant sound of aircraft flying over their house.

I myself have received gun fire while I was undergoing helicopter training at Fort Rucker in southeastern Alabama. I was flying around our local area of operations doing low level contour flight. Suddenly, my instructor pilot and I saw what was swore was three muzzle bursts at our two’o’clock position, followed by a prominent thud on our tail cone. We broke contact and returned to our local airfield. Upon further inspection, we discovered that the helicopter had been struck in the tail cone (the bullet barely missed the tail rotor drive shaft, which could have been catastrophic) and another had pierced the landing skid. We had an idea of where the fire had come from, but by the time the investigators went out, there was nobody there and the land owner claimed no responsibility.

I found this video on AvWeb and thought you would find it interesting since it relates to your question. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Pilot_Hit_Gunfire_208075-1.html

I hope that I have helped to answer your question. Pilots receiving gun fire from the ground over the US is still a real issue today.

Thanks Lee!

I was asked a few minutes ago to eliminate the name of the person who replied because he cannot speak for his employer. So I'll edit this to comply with his request.
UH-60M Blackhawk Pilot, WIARNG
:::::::::::::::::::::::


imtnbke, I to appreciate your very informative post regarding the 2008 "Heller" decision, thank you. I was involved in a class action suit (many years ago) by a group of NPS employees vs. the Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, over rental rates for government housing. We were meeting with our attorney at MacGeorge Law School (Sacramento, Calif), where he was also a professor. We had a couple of plaintiff officers who were pounding the table demanding justice in this dispute, no quarter given. I remember the professor telling us, "95% of those demanding their rights or justice in a court of law should be on their hands knees begging for mercy". It did give our group pause for consideration. I do not know imtnbke, but my empathy is with the NPCA position, banning "assault" weapons in parks has my support, but truly enjoy reading your arguments and comments on this listserve.


my empathy is with the NPCA position, banning "assault" weapons in parks has my support

Unfortunately, that is not their position.


Lee - maybe you should stop buzzing peoples houses by the airport.


BTW Lee - Maybe we should ban private airplanes. After all nobody really needs one and there are more people killed in private airplane crashes than by "assault" rifles. In fact, more than by rifles of any kind. And it looks like the problem is getting worse.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-19/pilots-deadly-private-plane-cra...


ecbuck, what happened is...the NRA spokesperson opened their mouth, and not everyone agrees with their position. The sheeple are the ones that think the NRA propaganda is gospel. I am not for removing all guns, but having better balance with background check, and what weapons are for civilian protection could be talked about without the NRA telling us what to think.


Thanks, rmackie. Very nice of you!

Also, regarding your experience concerning the legal system versus justice, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor gave a speech yesterday in which she said:

“You’re not God. Because hopefully, God is more merciful than sometimes you can be as a judge."

Quote available at this unpleasant website, with its intrusive popup ads:

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/01/28/supreme-court-justice-sotoma...


he NRA spokesperson opened their mouth

Thats right - the NRA spokesperson hasn't ever talked before. No one knew their position before - (eyes rolling)

and what weapons are for civilian protection

The civilian protection envisioned by our founders was the protection from the government. Thus, they wanted the citizens armed on par (in not superior) to the government. And given the way our government is moving today, I think that is as relevant now if not more so.

BTW - Here is the position of the County Sherrifs of Colorado on the proposed gun legislation released today.

http://www.csoc.org/ppdocs/GunControlLegislation.pdf

Essentially identical to that of the NRA. I guess we must have a bunch of kooks as Sherrifs. Funny how they keep getting elected.


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