News Release from Brady Campaign....National Park Carry

[concealed]

News Release
Government Documents Show
Bush Administration Ignored Warnings
"Guns In Parks Rule" Violated Law

For Immediate Release:
02-12-2009

Contact Communications:
(202) 898-0792


Washington, DC - The Bush Administration ignored warnings from senior career Interior Department officials that its last-minute rule change allowing the carrying of loaded, concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges was being hurried through in violation of Federal law, government documents obtained by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence show.

The rule, which took effect on January 9, 2009, overturned Reagan-era restrictions on the carrying of loaded, concealed weapons in national parks. The documents were released late last week by the government in response to a lawsuit filed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The suit charges the new rule is unlawful because it was issued without any analysis of the rule’s impacts on the environment and park visitors’ safe use of the parks, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal laws.

“These documents show that the Bush Administration ignored the procedural concerns and safety warnings of two federal agencies in pushing for a last-minute rule to allow concealed weapons in national parks. The Bush Administration apparently cared more about pleasing the gun lobby than following the law in making this post-election rule change,” said Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke.

According to the Interior Department documents, the National Park Service’s Chief of its Environmental Quality Division, Jacob Hoogland, warned in an April 3, 2008, e-mail that the rule “required additional NEPA analysis” and that “at minimum an Environmental Assessment should be prepared on the proposed revision to the existing firearms regulation.” Similarly, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chief of its Division of Policy and Directives Management, Michael Schwartz, warned in a May 14, 2008, e-mail, “The rule was published before they did any NEPA analysis. Last week, I pointed out that this is a procedural flaw.” The documents are available at
http://www.bradycampaign.org/xshare/...te-feb2009.pdf.

Then-Interior Department Secretary Dirk Kempthorne responded with a memo on August 22, 2008, stating that the rule is “one of my top priorities,” and the rule was then issued without the environmental analysis required by law.

The documents also show that the rule was strongly opposed by the National Park Service, whose Bush-appointed Director, Mary Bomar, wrote in a July 31, 2007, letter, “We believe that the [previous] regulations [restricting guns in parks] provide necessary and consistent enforcement parameters throughout the National Park System.” The new rule allows guns in rural and urban national park areas around the country, from Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park and California’s Yosemite National Park to Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, home of the Liberty Bell. The suit was filed on behalf of the Brady Campaign and its members, including a school teacher in New York who said she was canceling school trips to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty now that guns are allowed in these national park areas.

The suit charges that the Bush Administration violated several federal laws in its rush to implement the new rule before President Bush left office, including failing to conduct any environmental review of the harm that the new rule will cause, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The lawsuit also points out that the new rule was adopted in violation of the National Park Service Organic Act and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, which created the parks and wildlife refuges as protected lands for safe enjoyment of all visitors.

Rules in place since the Reagan Administration have allowed visitors to transport guns in national parks and wildlife refuges if they are unloaded and stored or dismantled. These restrictions have helped make these areas some of the safest places to visit in the country. At the behest of the gun lobby, however, the Interior Department announced last year that it planned to allow concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. The last-minute Bush rule allows the carrying of concealed weapons even in states that specifically ban the practice in state parks.

The Brady Campaign filed its lawsuit challenging the rule on December 30, 2008. The National Parks Conservation Association and Coalition of National Park Service Retirees filed a similar suit on January 6, 2009.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[tinkerinWstuff]

Wow, that's really scary stuff when you consider that people who have gone thru FBI background checks might have guns at the statue of liberty.

Of course, I'd have to look at that and see if it's actually true. What jurisdiction is Ellis island under and does that state allow CCW in their state parks?

[HotGuns]

These restrictions have helped make these areas some of the safest places to visit in the country

Another bold faced lie.

The last-minute Bush rule allows the carrying of concealed weapons even in states that specifically ban the practice in state parks.

Last minute? Another lie. There was an open public forum that solicited comments for months before the bill was even considered. Public opinion overwhelmingly supported the measure.

These people never stop.

[concealed]

These people never stop.

That is why we must not as well. I have a spam email account that I subscribed to the Bradyites alerts. That why I can be informed as to the thoughts of the enemy. You can bet they are doing it to us!

[HotGuns]

Then they ought to realize that we dont give in to girly men and bullish women spouting lies and treason.

[BamaSteve]

I have backpacked a couple times in the Smokey Mountains, and I tell ya what. After hearing some stories about things that can happen, this rule made me so happy. Now I can feel a little safer (not totally, but better than nothing) around bears and other wildlife. Not to mention crazy people. I've heard of some bad things happening to backpackers on the App. trail.

And of course now, here comes a bunch of ignorant people that have only one thing on their mind, no matter what statistics and such show...welcome to the new America!!!

[archer51]

The suit was filed on behalf of the Brady Campaign and its members, including a school teacher in New York who said she was canceling school trips to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty now that guns are allowed in these national park areas.

As far as I'm aware of you have to go through NYS and NYC to get to these locations, so you're going to be disarmed anyway. Oh, wait a minute, maybe they think you are going to have them air dropped to you!

[goawayfarm]

I knew this wasn't over yet......

http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulle...y-not-yet.html

[JOHNSMITH]

I knew this wasn't over yet......

http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulle...y-not-yet.html

Actually the National Park carry exceeded the 60 days and is already in the register. Obama and Co. cannot change it without going through the same period of public comment and other approvals, which is unlikely at this point. They'll go after guns in some bigger way.

[P7fanatic]

News Release
Government Documents Show

Washington, DC -
.... These restrictions have helped make these areas some of the safest places to visit in the country.

No matter who or what the liberal cause is, it seems they always make irrational, absurd or unfounded arguements to support their agenda. Sometimes they are just outright lies. The fallacy of gun-free zones.


Texas State Rep. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp spoke her mind and the truth in this video and also in DC.
YouTube - Penn and Teller - Gun Free Zones

quote:
"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of." -Suzanna Gratia Hupp

[sharpetop]

Can somebody please enlighten me as to why the carrying of a concealed firearm has anything to do with the environment?

[Sticks]

The toxic lead vapors and cleaning chemicals used seeping from your weapon.

Dose it require a lobotomy to become a member of the Brady Bunch, or be allowed to make public statements on their behalf?

[goawayfarm]

Actually the National Park carry exceeded the 60 days and is already in the register. Obama and Co. cannot change it without going through the same period of public comment and other approvals, which is unlikely at this point. They'll go after guns in some bigger way.

That may not matter since there are TWO lawsuits filed against it for 'violating' the environmental impact portion.....Do you really think the anti's are going to lose BOTH of them. Either one of these will cause the rule to be voided.....Remember Heller was decided by ONE JUSTICE.....I'm sure the Brady bunch has filed these in a 'friendly court'.....

[ccw9mm]

The toxic lead vapors and cleaning chemicals used seeping from your weapon.

It would take one million visits to Yellowstone by me for enough vapors to escape my muzzle to impinge on the free air of one sparrow, and that for as little time as the sparrow passed within one inch of the muzzle. Hm. Agreed, that lobotomy must be a prereq for admittance to the Brady Bunch in order for such logic to be deemed righteous enough to spend $millions to spread. Witless fear has no place. Neither does brainless political action.

[dukalmighty]

I know why the Brady bunch is so scared of guns ,with the number of toilets getting shot It's only a matter of time before they shoot the one they live in