The Washington Post yesterday reported that the Justice Department backed a rule change put in place by the outgoing Bush administration that would allow for concealed weapons carry for permit holders and that individuals had to abide by the gun laws of the state in which the park is located.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the National Parks Conservation Association and the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees are challenging the ruling by declaring that the Bush administration illegally made the rule change without first submitting an Environmental Impact Statement. The Justice department said no way.

[T]he Justice Department wrote that the new rule “does not alter the environmental status quo, and will not have any significant impacts on public health and safety.”

These anti-gun groups are making absurd claims that school groups will stop making field trips to the parks because now there might be armed citizens there. If that is the case, I suggest that all schools stop making field trips anywhere off campus as any danger that might exist is far greater riding a bus to and from school than visiting a park where some law abiding American citizen might be carrying concealed. As a matter of fact, they may be safer.

Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, says people will just stop going to parks.

“It is hard to tell who is calling the shots on this at this point,” Helmke said. “You’re raising the level of risk in the parks, and the chance that people will use the parks less than they have in the past.”

What a joke! Can this guy be serious for just a few minutes?

Tom Remington

Related Posts