Packing heat in national parks: What do you think?
Firearms in national parks: Does it make you safer, or make parks more dangerous?
This is a story we ran in Wednesday’s Oklahoman about an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn that passed the Senate the day before:
http://newsok.com/senate-oks-loaded-guns-in-u.s.-parks/article/3368939
So this brings up the question: Do you carry a firearms when you’re out in the woods? When you go campaing, do you bring a firearm? Fishing? Hiking? Climbing?
I’ve seen a lot of debate on this on other forums. If Coburn’s amendment becomes law, it would allow people to carry loaded firearms into national parks in states that have conceal-and-carry laws.
So many questions. If you carry, why? If not, why not? Comment here, let me know what you think.
Bob Doucette
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Comments
Interesting. I’ve heard that sentiment before. Just for disclosure’s sake, I’ll say that I’m a gun owner. I’ve never brought a gun into a national park before. Haven’t seen the need, and on backpacking trips the added weight just wasn’t worth it to me. However, I can definitely see some reasons for people doing so. If I went solo or in a small group in Montana/Idaho/Wyoming/Alaska, I’d definitely consider a high-powered handgun, like a .357 (grizzlies). Here in Oklahoma, just haven’t seen the need.
Any other toughts?
Conceal carry is designed for self protection and does not mean people will be shooting for pleasure in the park. I think it is a right we sould have. If someone is shooting it will mean their life is in danger.
The problem with gun laws, or any laws for that matter, is that the only people who heed them are law abiding citizens. Therefore, only the bad folks will be carrying the guns.
I seem to remember a story out of the Kiamichis where an unarmed couple got ambushed by an armed criminal wearing a gilly suit. Winding Stair area. Good example of that. Not sure if they could have defended themselves if they were armed, but anyway…
I still say if I were traveling in grizzly country, whether I’m in a national park or not, I’m packing heat. Here in Oklahoma, I’m probably not. One memory I had was backpacking with friends in Colorado, and one of our companions who was inexperienced at backpacking but quite familiar with guns brought a revolver, holster and gun belt complete with spare ammo. He wasn’t in the best of shape to begin with and had a pack that was too large. The extra 6-8 pounds that the gun/belt/holster/ammo provided nearly stopped him from making it to camp. Someone else had to help re-pack his pack and take the gun up for him. He said he’d never bring one to the high country again, if I remember right.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the US is headed for Civil War – Yes, again. What a (expletive deleted) nutso country! I will further add that one reason I go to National Parks is to GET AWAY FROM DOGS AND ATVs and NOISE AND GUNS AND ALL THAT (expletive deleted) THAT YOU FIND EVERYWHERE ELSE. I mean what’s the point of going to a fricken park at all?