Sure, fishing is allowed at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, but did you know you can hunt there, too?/Kurt Repanshek file
Editor's note: The following article was written by Frank Buono, a long-time National Park Service employee, now retired.
THE 1978 REDWOOD AMENDMENT AND NPS REGULATIONS
"The authorization of activities...shall not be exercised in derogation of the values and purposes for which these various areas have been established, except as may have been or shall be directly and specifically provided by Congress."
With these words, in a rider to the Redwood National Park Expansion Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-250; 92 Stat. 163), Congress amended the National Park Service General Authorities Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 825). "Perceiving in these amendments an implied reproof for having strayed from the true purpose of the Organic Act..., NPS concluded that Congress conceived of the park system as an integrated whole, wherein the Park Service was to permit hunting and trapping only where it had been specifically authorized, or discretion given it to do so, by Congress in the applicable enabling act." So said the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia in National Rifle Association v. Potter (1986).
In speedy response to the Redwood Amendment, the National Park Service (NPS) revised its general regulations in 1983 to ensure that recreational and commercial removal of natural resources from a park must first be authorized in law. The revised regulations allow hunting or trapping only where provided by the enabling legislation for each park. Similarly, the Preamble to the final regulations makes clear that commercial removal of park natural resources may occur only where provided for in law (48 FR 30253).
Hunting and trapping are activities in derogation of park values. The NPS decided, therefore, that they may occur ONLY in those park whose enabling act provided for them. Conversely, hunting and trapping are absolutely disallowed in those parks where there is no specific and direct congressional authorization. This iron-clad imperative survived court challenge in National Rifle Association v. Potter and has endured for over three decades. Yet, there is no list on NPS websites, or on any other, of parks where hunting and trapping are allowed.
This report contains such a list.
This report also lists other activities in derogation of park values and purposes that may occur in a park only because Congress directly and specifically authorizes them, either in a general provision of law or in the statute establishing an individual unit.
If anyone detects an error of commission or omission on any of these lists, please contact the author at [email protected]. Any changes and suggestions are welcome and valued.
I. NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM UNITS OPEN TO RECREATIONAL SPORT HUNTING
1. Amistad National Recreation Area, TX
2. Aniakchak National Preserve, AK
3. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WI
4. Assateague Island National Seashore, MD/VA
5. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, AK
6. Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
7. Bighorn Canyon National Preserve, MT/WY
8. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, (KY/TN)
9. Big Thicket National Preserve, TX
10. Bluestone National Scenic River, WV
11. Buffalo National River, AR
12. Canaveral National Seashore, FL
13. Cape Cod National Seashore, MA (discretionary)*
14. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC
15. Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC
16. Chickasaw National Recreation Area, OK
17. City of Rocks National Reserve, ID
18. Craters of the Moon National Preserve, ID
19. Curecanti National Recreation Area, CO (no enabling act; by cooperative agreement)
20. Cumberland Island National Seashore, GE
21. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NJ/PA
22. Denali National Preserve, AK
23. Fire Island National Seashore, NY
24. Gates of the Arctic National Preserve, AK
25. Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ/NY
26. Gauley River National Recreation Area, WV
27. Glacier Bay National Preserve, AK
28. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, AZ/UT
29. Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic River, NJ
30. Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, CO
31. Gulf Islands National Seashore, AL/MS/FL
32. Hagermann Fossil Beds National Monument, ID (waterfowl only over Snake River)
33. Jean Lafitte National Historic Park, LA (Barataria Marsh Unit only)
34. John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway, WY
35. Katmai National Preserve, AK
36. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, ME (portion only, by Presidential
Proclamation)
37. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, WA
38. Lake Clark National Preserve, AK
39. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ/NV
40. Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, TX
41. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, WA (by cooperative agreement)
42. Little River Canyon National Preserve, AL
43. Missouri National Recreational River, NE/SD
44. Mojave National Preserve, CA
45. New River Gorge National River, WV
46. Niobrara Scenic River, NE
47. Noatak National Preserve, AK
48. Obed Wild and Scenic River, WV
49. Oregon Caves National Preserve, OR
50. Ozark National Scenic Riverway, MO
51. Padre Island National Seashore, TX (waterfowl only, over Laguna Madre)
52. Point Reyes National Seashore, CA (discretionary)
53. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI
54. Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, TX (outside of the Big Bend NP only)
55. Ross Lake National Recreation Area, WA
56. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI
57. St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, MN/WI
58. Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve, KS (discretionary)
59. Timicuan Ecologic and Historic Preserve, FL
60. Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, NY/PA
61. Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM
62. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, CA
63. Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve, AK
64. Yukon-Charley National Preserve, AK
Units Sometimes Counted Erroneously
Alagnak Wild River, AK – lies entirely within Katmai National Preserve listed above.
Middle Delaware National Scenic River, NJ/PA – lies entirely within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area listed above.
Grand Teton National Park, WY – 1950 establishment act provides for private, licensed persons, deputized as park rangers, to engage in population reduction of elk.
Parashant National Monument, AZ – The national monument portion administered by the NPS is coterminous with parts of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area listed above.
Units with Indian Trust Lands Open to Hunting
Badlands National Park, SD – The South Unit consists of lands held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The United States (NPS) possesses a scenic easement on that tract of land. The Oglala Tribe may hunt on their lands in the park. Non-members of the tribe cannot.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, AZ – The entire monument is land held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior for the Navajo Tribe. The Navajo may hunt on those lands.
* "Discretionary" means that Congress provides that the Secretary MAY permit hunting but does not mandate it. In two of the three such parks, there is no hunting. Point Reyes has never permitted hunting. Tall Grass Prairie has very little Federal land.
II . NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM UNITS OPEN TO TRAPPING (27)
• Aniakchak National Preserve, AK
• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WI
• Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, AK
• Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
• Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, KY/TN
• Big Thicket National Preserve, TX
• Canaveral National Seashore, FL
• Curecanti National Recreation Area, CO (no enabling act; by cooperative agreement)
• Cumberland Island National Seashore, GE
• Denali National Preserve, AK
• Gates of the Arctic National Preserve, AK
• Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ/NY
• Gauley River National Recreation Area, WV
• Glacier Bay National Preserve, AK
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, AZ/UT
• Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, CO
• Jean Lafitte National Historic Park (Barataria Marsh Unit only), LA
• Katmai National Preserve, AK
• Lake Clark National Preserve, AK
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ/NV
• Little River Canyon National Preserve, AL
• Mojave National Preserve, CA
• Noatak National Preserve, AK
• Ozark National Scenic Riverway, MO (by court decision)
• Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM
• Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve, AK
• Yukon-Charley National Preserve, AK
Possible Illegal Trapping
• Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, TX - On April 30, 1984, the NPS adopted a regulation governing Lake Meredith Recreation Area that allowed trapping. See 36 CFR 7.58. The park was then managed under a cooperative agreement and without an enabling act. In 1990, Congress enacted a law establishing Lake Meredith as a "national recreation area." That law does NOT authorize trapping. The NPS never removed the 1984 special regulation. It is unclear whether trapping actually occurs at Lake Meredith.
III. NATIONAL PAK SYSTEM UNITS OPEN TO COMMERCIAL REMOVAL OF
MARINE RESOURCES
Acadia National Park, ME – P.L. 116-9 (2019) Taking of marine species, marine worms and shellfish between mean high watermark and the mean low watermark where it is "traditional."
Buck Island Reef National Monument, VI – Proc. 3443 (1961) Protects existing fishing and laying of fishpots outside the marine garden by residents of the Virgin Islands.
Cape Cod National Seashore, MA - 75 STAT 284 (1961) Allows towns to regulate commercial (and recreational) shell-fishing.
Cape Krusenstern National Monument, AK - P.L. 96-487 (1980) Secretary may take no action to restrict unreasonably the exercise of existing commercial fishing rights or privileges obtained to existing law.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC – 50 STAT 669 (1937) Provides for legal residents of villages in the seashore the right to earn a livelihood by fishing.
Glacier Bay National Preserve, AK - P.L. 96-487 (1980) Secretary may take no action to restrict unreasonably the exercise of existing commercial fishing rights or privileges obtained to existing law in the Dry Bay area.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, LA – P.L. 95-625 (1978) Commercial fishing mandated in Barataria Unit only.
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, VI – Proc. 7339 (2001) Secretary may issue permits for bait fishing at Hurricane Hole and blue runner (hard nose) line fishing south of St. John.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve, AK - P.L. 96-487 (1980) Secretary may take no action to restrict unreasonably the exercise of existing commercial fishing rights or privileges obtained under existing law.
IV. NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM UNITS OPEN TO DISPOSAL OF FEDERAL MINERALS
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area , UT – 1972 – The Secretary shall permit the removal of nonleasable minerals (sand, gravel, etc., generically known as "mineral materials") and of minerals leasable under the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, upon a finding of no significant adverse effect. In 1981 Congress authorized the conversion of oil leases or issuance of combined hydrocarbon leases for tar sands in designated special tar sands areas. Federal lands within Glen Canyon are one of 11 designated special tar sands areas, all in Utah.
Lake Chelan National Recreation Are, WA – 1968 – The Secretary may permit the removal of nonleasable minerals (sand, gravel, etc., generically known as "mineral materials") and of minerals leasable under the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, upon a finding of no significant adverse effect. This provision was repealed in 1988. Sand, rock and gravel may be made available for sale to the residents of Stehekin for local use upon a finding of no significant adverse effects. (P.L. 100-668; 102 Stat. 3964; November 16, 1988)
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ/NV – 1964 – The Secretary may allow mineral leasing.
Ross Lake National Recreation Area, WA – 1968 - The Secretary may permit the removal of nonleasable minerals (sand, gravel, etc., generically known as "mineral materials") and of minerals leasable under the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, upon a finding of no significant adverse effect. This provision was repealed in 1988. (P.L. 100-668; 102 Stat. 3964; November 16, 1988)
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, CA – 1965 - The Secretary may permit the removal of nonleasable minerals (sand, gravel, etc., generically known as "mineral materials") and of minerals leasable under the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, upon a finding of no significant adverse effect.
Note 1: No mineral leases have ever been issued under any of these authorities.
Note 2: The date shown immediately after the unit name is the date of unit establishment. Internal text shows dates of subsequent enactment that concern minerals.
V. NATIONAL PAK SYSTEM UNITS OPEN TO SALE OF WATER
General Authority – 1970 – NPS may "enter into contracts which provide for the sale or lease to persons, States, or their political subdivisions, of...resources or water available within an area of the national park system,... if such person, State, or political subdivision – (1) provides public accommodation or services within the immediate vicinity of an area...to persons visiting the area; and (2) has demonstrated...that there are no reasonable alternatives..." [Note: Resources does not include any mineral resource, according to NPS Guideline 66, Chapter 7, page 1.]
Specific Unit Authority
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ – 1919 – Secretary is authorized to sell water from the park for the use of customers within Tusayan, Arizona to a nonprofit entity upon a determination that such sale is not detrimental to the protection of the resources of the
Park. (P.L. 95-586; 92 Stat. 2495 – November 3, 1978)
VI. NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM AREAS OPEN TO COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK
GRAZING
General Authority:
The Organic Act of August 25, 1916 provides, at section 3, that the Secretary of the Interior may, under rules and regulations that he may prescribe, grant the privilege to graze livestock within any national park, monument or other reservation, except Yellowstone National Park.
The Secretary published the current regulation governing grazing at 36 CFR 2.60 (1983). The regulations lists three conditions under which grazing may occur in a park. They are:
• as specifically authorized by Federal statutory law; or
• as required under a reservation of use rights arising from acquisition of a tract of land; or
• as designated, when conducted as a necessary part of a recreational activity, or required in order to maintain the historic scene. (Examples – Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park)
The inclusion of the following 27 parks on this list is not evidence that grazing is now occurring in that park. Many of the privileges have expired, or have been acquired by conservation third-parties and retired.
Park Specific Authority:
Arches National Park, UT – 1971 – The Secretary shall permit any persons or their heirs with a grazing lease or permit on lands in the park to continue such privileges with one period of renewal.
Badlands National Park, SD – 1968 – The rights of Oglala Sioux to use lands in what became the "South Unit" for grazing purposes.
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, AK – 1980 – Reindeer grazing permitted where under a permit existing on January 1, 1976.
Big Cypress National Preserve, FL – 1974 – Secretary to promulgate rules where necessary to govern grazing and agricultural use.
Big Thicket National Preserve, TX – 1974 - Secretary to promulgate rules where necessary to govern grazing and agricultural use.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO – 1984 – allows Secretary to permit grazing at 1983 levels on lands on which the U.S. acquires less than fee interest (P.L. 98-357; 98 Stat. 397).
Authorizes grazing within the areas of the park designated as wilderness where authorized under existing permits with renewal for lifetime of the individual permittee and for partnerships or corporations under similar terms (P.L. 106-76; 113 Stat.1128; October 21, 1999).
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, AZ – 1931 – Allows Secretary to proclaim national monument with consent of the Navajo Tribe. Act protects rights of Navajo to graze there.
Canyonlands National Park, UT – 1964 - The Secretary shall permit any persons or their heirs with a grazing lease or permit on lands in the park to continue such privileges with one period of renewal. Also protects established stock driveways.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT – 1971 - The Secretary shall permit any persons or their heirs with a grazing lease or permit on lands in the park to continue such privileges with one period of renewal.
Also protects established stock driveways.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM – 1980 – Continued grazing allowed on properties in the park that are subject of cooperative agreements. Act of February 17, 1931 (46 Stat. 1165) allowed for retention of stock driveway privileges to certain former owner of patented lands obtained by the United States in the monument.
Coronado National Memorial, AZ – 1941 – Secretary shall permit existing grazing when it does not interfere with recreation.
Death Valley National Park, CA – 1994 – Secretary shall permit existing grazing at current levels on former BLM lands added to unit with no time limit.
Dinosaur National Monument, CO – 1960 – Boundary legally defined. Secretary shall permit existing grazing to continue for 25 years (i.e. 1985) and thereafter during lifetime of permittee or their heirs or successors as of 1985, and shall continue as long as the base property to which grazing privileges are attached remains in private hands. (Act of September 8, 1960; 74 Stat. 857)
El Malpais National Monument, NM – 1987 – Secretary shall permit existing grazing until December 31, 1997. No grazing allowed after January 1, 1998.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, UT – 1972 – Grazing to be administered by Bureau of land Management.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, CA – 1972 – Owner of agricultural property acquired by U.S. may retain a right of use for 25-year term, or ending at death of owner or spouse. Secretary may also lease federally-owned lands which was agricultural land prior to acquisition. Agricultural property is land used for agriculture, ranching or dairying. (P.L. 93-625; 92 Stat. 3467) enacted November 10, 1978.
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ – 1919 – Livestock permitted to graze on adjoining national forest allowed to drift across lands added to park in 1928 (45 Stat. 234) to private lands north thereof. Grand Canyon Expansion Act of 1975 (P.L. 93-630; 88 Stat. 2091) mandates that Secretary permit existing grazing leases to continue to term and also renewal, not to extend beyond ten years of January 3, 1975
Grand Teton National Park, WY – 1950 – Existing grazing privileges to remain for a period of 25 years (i.e. September 14, 1975) and thereafter for the lifetime of owners, heirs, successors or assigns only if they are members of the family on September 14, 1975. Grazing privileges on federal lands appurtenant to private lands in the park boundary shall continue until such lands acquired by the U.S.
Great Basin National Park, NV – 1986 – Secretary shall permit existing grazing in park as was permitted on July 1, 1985
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, CO – 2000 – Secretary MAY permit existing grazing on State or private lands acquired for park or preserve and also on Federal lands within the Park or Preserve. (P.L. 106-530)
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ/NV – 1964 – Secretary MAY provide for the following activities that included "grazing." (P.L. 88-639: 78 Stat. 1040). Congress designated 9 separate wilderness areas in the Nevada portion of Lake Mead NRA, as well as several adjoining and nearby BLM wilderness areas. Congress mandates the continuation of grazing only on the BLM wilderness areas, implying that grazing is not to continue on the NPS wilderness areas. (P.L. 107-282; 116 Stat. 2002; November 6, 2002.)
Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA – 1916 – Secretary may adopt regulations for the park that shall include provisions for the "reasonable grazing of stock." (39 Stat. 444)
Mojave National Preserve, CA – 1994 – Grazing shall continue at existing levels on former BLM lands transferred to the NPS to create the Preserve.
Oregon Caves National Preserve, OR – 2014 – Secretary MAY allow grazing of livestock at levels existing on date of enactment. Secretary shall accept lease donation if offered and shall retire them and end grazing permanently.
Point Reyes National Seashore, CA – 1962 – Secretary MAY lease federal lands that were acquired and which was agricultural land before acquisition for agricultural purposes (primarily ranching and dairying).
Sequoia National Park, CA – 1890 – 1926 statute allows Secretary to issue permits for grazing livestock in the park (44 Stat. 820).
Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM – 2014 – Secretary shall allow the grazing of livestock to continue.
Note: Except for Dinosaur, the date shown immediately after the unit name is the date of unit establishment. Internal text shows dates of subsequent enactment that concern livestock grazing.
Comments
Can we leave the animals alone AT LEAST in national parks??????
I don't really know and can only guess what Frank Buono intended when he wrote this article or what the editorial staff intended when they published it. I was raised around guns and hunting and, even now, my position on individual animal rights is really not very strong. However, as I grew up and became an adult, I came to understand how historically depleted many wildlife populations remain to this day, how much damage has already been done to wildlife gene pools, and what an important role parks and other protected lands play in sustaining breeding populations of what is left. I also came to understand how inherently, pointlessly, and crudely inhumane trapping and bowhunting are even under the best of circumstances. So, I've spent literally decades advocating a reassessment of the extent and regulation of recreational hunting and trapping, which have really just become permissable outlets killing for fun. I don't believe they should be so widely allowed in our national parks and on other protected lands. But, I've also been assured that none of my efforts are going to make any difference under a republican controlled government and that I will have to wait until next January before even the most minor and limited of reforms can even begin to be discussed.
American Bison were reduced from over thirty million to arguably less than thirty genetically pure specimens by the turn of the 20th century, with most of those remaining specimens locked in Yellowstone National Park. There are currently only about five thousand descendants of those less than thirty original stranded Yellowstone Bison, making them priceless remnants of a bygone genetic heritage; yet, while there are some encouraging signs that more of those descendants will be used as breeding stock elsewhere, the wasteful slaughter of these animals at Beattie Gulch continues, with republican political elements dragging their feet on further progress.
The situation at Caneel Bay in Virgin Islands National Park frustrates me, where a deadbeat lessee first, violated multiple provisions of his lease; second, demanded a sixty year extension to his control; third, demanded that, if he didn't get the undeserved extension, American taxpayers would have to "wire transfer" $70 million to one of his front companies and the Department of the Interior would also have to indemnify another of his front companies for contamination found on his watch at Caneel Bay; and fourth, threatened that, if the taxpayers didn't pay his $70 million ransom or he wasn't indemnified against the contamination clean-up costs, "fee title" to the Caneel Bay portion of Virgin Islands National Park would immediately and automatically revert to one of his companies and that company would have all "rights of ownership" to that portion of Virgin Islands National Park. All of that sounded outrageous to me. However, I've again been told that nothing good can happen at Caneel Bay under a republican controlled administration and that the best I can hope for is for nothing to happen until next January when a resolution of the problem might be possible under a different administration.
I am bothered by the situation at Point Reyes National Seashore where the National Park Service (NPS) thinks it's appropriate to hunt and cull rare, already genetically bottlenecked, native tule elk to appease shabby commercial livestock operators who have played both ends of the political spectrum against both the middle and good conservation science to get their leases extended far beyond the original intent of Congress. Again, I'm told nothing can be done until and unless current republican control of government is reversed in the next election.
I was outraged by the loosening of hunting and trapping regulations in national parks in Alaska, but was, again, told that nothing could be done under the current republican control of government.
I regret that, thanks to the current republican administration, Susan LaPierre was quietly and without fanfare appointed to the National Park Foundation's Board of Directors in 2017, the first year of this republican administration. Although Ms LaPierre's biography makes no specific mention of her connection with the NRA, she is the wife of current NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. Now the NRA has a seat at the National Park Foundation table. I wonder whether that could have had any influence on the current expansion of hunting in national parks.
I was outraged by the situation at Tusayan south of Grand Canyon National Park, where where the current republican administration has installed a staff lawyer lackey with little or no actual park management experience to deal with a corrupt real estate development scheme involving an Italian gang that has taken control of local politics ...with the help of republicans in that state. Again, I've been told to be patient because nothing can be done given the current republican control of the executive branch.
I was angry when I found out that, during the previous republican administration, Delaware North, on the basis of a contract they held for only a few years and a corrupt relationship with the NPS, had overstepped and misused their stake in order to quietly gain copyright control over the names of the Ahwahnee, which had been operating in Yosemite since 1927, and other historic establishments in that park. I was very frustrated when Delaware North was paid millions of taxpayer dollars in ransom to relinquish that control and even more frustrated when Delaware North was, even then, allowed to do even more business with the NPS. For someone who loves national parks, that's worse than the Roger Stone commutation. But, I've been told that nothing will be done about any of it, especially under this republican administration.
I mourn the loss of so much of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments and the vandalism done to the ancient pictographs and cultural sites that were protected in those areas. The State of Utah had boasted that those areas would be protected as well or better than under national monument designation. That turned out to be an idle and unconscionably immoral boast. But again, I'm told that nothing can be done until and unless there is a change in the party that controls the federal administration because both the vandals who removed the protections and the vandals who have been defacing the cultural resources that were supposed to be protected are all part of that same republican party and rightwing movement.
I mourn the loss of far over a hundred thousand Americans to a pandemic that the republican party and its political minions were late to take seriously, reluctant to own up to, and too quick to downplay. I can only hope the death toll does not rise too much higher before this republican administration can be removed.
And, I'm especially outraged by the behavior of Yellowstone Forever, the "official nonprofit partner" of the NPS in Yellowstone National Park under this republican controlled administration. As article after article in National Park Traveler, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, and other places have reported, this rogue nonprofit, which was launched along with the current administration, almost immediately began engaging in practically every form of malfeasance, from financial irresponsibility, to sweetheart compensation packages and deals, to whistleblower intimidation and retaliation, to employment discrimination, to the creation of fraudulent business and tax records, and to, according to firsthand witness accounts, the use of fraudulent accounting practices to disguise a politically motivated closure of the Yellowstone Institute in violation of their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Yet, I am again told to wait to see if the next federal administration will take action because the republican party created this monster and they're not about to put it to sleep.
Finally, this morning, the Washington Post reported that, "Eight people suffered severe eye injuries at protests across the country on May 30, the Saturday after George Floyd's death." That's a lot of coincidentally similar injuries on one day. The newspaper "examined the circumstances of three of those incidents" and reported their reviews "cast doubt on police descriptions of the events." The number of coincidentally similar injuries on one day is merely interesting; but, credible doubt about official police descriptions of these events, when considered in combination with the patterns and practices that we've seen increasing over the past couple of decades of republican political control, begs the question of when we, as a society, will decide to act to change course.
So, I don't really know what Frank Buono or the editorial staff intended I do with the information in this article. At this point, I don't what I should or can do ...except wait ...and vote this November to end this republican reign of terror and help return sanity to our country.
Vote and encourage everyone you know to vote.
You sound like a broken record. "I'm angry and it's the Republicans fault!" Whaa whaa whaa. No one cares about your ignorant leftist opinion. Don't like hunting? Then don't participate. But, to have the audacity to believe that YOUR opinion should have any ability to influence MY rights to hunt to provide food for my family is ludicrous. I, and likely every hunter reading your manifesto, could care less about your opinion. Take your rambling and ill informed diatribe elsewhere, Sir. Good day.
I doubt that Humphrey wants to eliminate your right to hunt to provide food for your family. If you are indeed a subsistence hunter, you are in a small minority of gun owners and all of you, combined, are not a significant part of the problem that Humphrey is describing. If you and "every hunter reading [his] manifesto" care about wildlife, you OUGHT to put your close-mindedneess aside and consider the merits of what Humphrey is saying about the corruption of the NPS and the degradation of nature.