December 30, 2008
Firearms Department
Sarah Brady Scares the Teachers
Let me give you a little bit of background, first. Early in the month, the Department of Interior announced new rules around carrying of firearms in National Parks.
Not a big deal, although poor Lloyd Garver got his LA knickers in a twist over at the HuffPo, almost as much as the time he visited Minnesota and didn't get shot.
Basically, the Interior Department aligned the rules for the national parks with those of the state in which they're located. In Minnesota, for example, where I live, people with valid carry permits can carry their handguns in state parks; now, when they're up at Voyageuers National Park, the same rule will apply. Similarly for Utah, Montana, both Dakotas -- and the vast majority of states; handgun carry permits are easily available in more than forty of the fifty states.
No effect, of course, in Wisconsin and Illinois -- the two states that, just like the District of Columbia, only allow cops and criminals to carry handguns -- and no practical effect in states like New York and New Jersey, not just because of the paucity of National Parks -- heck, the Statue of Liberty is run by the Park Service, and while Morristown is no Yellowstone, it's kinda cool -- but because, in states like that, carry permits are as rare as honest Chicago politicians are in Chicago.
Now, over to Sarah; I'll be back in a bit.
Yup. Sarah's scaring teachers into avoiding the National Mall and the Statue of Liberty out of her panic that when some of us are visiting, say, Rushmore we might have lawfully-carried handgun on us, just like we'd have down the road at Custer State Park.MORE GUNS IN NATIONAL PARKS PUT VISITORS AT RISK
Dear [Redacted],
The Bush Administration has given the gun lobby a special last-minute gift -- a very expensive one, ... one that puts public safety at risk.
The Brady Center is taking action to stop it. We need your help.
The Brady Center has filed a suit asking a federal court to strike down the Administration's last-minute rule change to allow concealed, loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges.
Please give a tax-deductible gift now to help us stop this unnecessary and dangerous ruling. It will allow guns in rural and urban national park areas around the country ...
... from Wyoming's Yellowstone and California's Yosemite to Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park, home of the Liberty Bell.
The Brady Center filed the suit on behalf of our Brady Campaign members, including school teachers in the New York and Washington, D.C. areas who are canceling or curtailing school trips to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and the National Mall in Washington, D.C. now that the Bush Administration will allow guns in these national parks.
Click here to give today to support our efforts to keep our parks and wildlife refuges safe, to stop the gun lobby and the Bush Administration from enacting this last-minute ruling.
Sincerely,
Sarah Brady, Chair
Sheesh, Sarah. And I've been complaining about some folks on my side worrying about the sky falling.
1 Comments
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One other thing: The "Administration's last-minute rule change" was actually the result of a year-long rules evaluation and change process initiated at the request of 47 senators.
There is nothing last minute about it.