Dear Senator Warner
With all due respect, Sir, I do not see how your office's email below responds
directly to my request for your help in restoring the right to self-defense in
National Parks & Wildlife Refuges by contacting the Department of Interior.
Did you contact the Department of Interior and urge them in the strongest
terms to implement the January 9, 2009 weapons regulation?
Your assurance that you do not support laws or regulations that infringe on
the Second Amendment Constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and
bear arms would seem to suggest that you will act to allow law-abiding
citizens with concealed carry permits to carry on National Parks & Wildlife
Refuges, as we can in the National Forests. Is that so? If so, have you been
able to find out if the DOI is on a time line to conduct the environmental
analysis that the Court requested?
If so, have they indicated what assumptions they are using to analysis the
environmental impact of carrying concealed? I carry concealed on average of
more than 10 hours a day - i.e., 3650+ hours a year. In the last few years, I
have not fired other than at a range (on National Forest Service land, by the
way) or while hunting. Therefore, even had I spent all that time in the NPS
there would have been no more impact that my footprints being minutely deeper
that were I unarmed. How many discharges are they assuming per visitor-hour?
I would think that given the location of George Washington Memorial Parkway,
Colonial Parkway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway this would be an important issue
for your constituency. There are many local roads, which cross these
Parkways, at grade and without any clear demarcation of the "Park" boundaries.
The January 9, 2009 weapons regulation was a major improvement in the former
confusing and unnecessary regulation that denied the right to self-defense in
National Parks & Wildlife Refuges and subjected many of your law-abiding
supporters to unintended violations of the old regulations.
In addition, a Park official has told me that even roads that cross with
under/overpasses are also entering and leaving the "Park" and are subject to
NSP rules and regulations.
I regularly use such roads as US 460, US 220, US 58, US 52, and I-77.
Respectfully yours,
David F. Hicks
----- Original Message -----
From: "Office of Senator Mark Warner" <donotreply@warner.senate.gov>
To: <carla_dave_hicks@verizon.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:41 PM
Subject: Responding to your message
Dear Mr. Hicks,
Thank you for contacting me to share your views on gun control. I
appreciate your thoughts on this important issue.
I realize that there are very strong opinions on both sides of the
debate around Second Amendment rights. I support public policies that
ensure the responsible and appropriate use of guns, as well as efforts
to reduce gun-related crimes through increased enforcement and
background checks. I do not, however, support laws or regulations that
infringe on the Second Amendment Constitutional right of law-abiding
citizens to keep and bear arms.
In the United States Senate, legislation on gun control generally falls
under the jurisdiction of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which I am
not a member. Please be assured that I value the thoughts that you have
shared with me on this important issue. I will keep your views in mind
should any legislation on this matter come before the full Senate in the
future.
Again, thank you for writing. As we move forward in the 111th Congress,
please continue to contact me with your opinions and concerns.
Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator