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Today's the day. It is now "legal" to carry guns in national parks, providing applicable state rules are observed. And there's no shortage of hand-wringers predicting the end of the world as we know it.
So perhaps we should spend a moment and review what the new rule won't do:
It won't legalize murder.
It won't legalize poaching.
It won't legalize armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon or brandishing.
It won't legalize destruction of property.
It won't legalize gun possession by "prohibited persons."
The "reasoning" used by those who tell us we cannot allow guns in national parks actually applies everywhere, and that's where we can demonstrate the flaw in their argument. An otherwise peaceable armed citizen who gets by just fine with his guns outside park boundaries won't suddenly undergo a personality transformation once he crosses a line on a map. And a criminal, who is not predisposed to obeying rules, won't alter his behavior one way or another.
Here's the crux of what the antis fear, from a Los Angeles Times article:
The presence of guns, they say, could increase the chance of deadly accidents and up the ante in confrontations between park visitors or between visitors and wildlife.
I won't argue that. It could. That same argument could be used against having guns anywhere. And is.
But that kind of disingenuous thinking only looks at one side of the equation and totally ignores the protective benefits of guns in moral hands. It's the kind of mentality that says because some are abusive of freedom, we all must be deprived of it.
It's the kind of mentality that's just waiting for the first opportunity to scream "We told you so!"
And they'll get plenty of help from their mass media allies.
As if anything gives them a claim on your right to defend your life, or the lives of your loved ones...
As usual, they'll be looking to hold those who control themselves responsible for the actions of those who don't. Because, when you get right down to it, that's all they've got.
Be ready for it. This isn't over.
UPDATE--Be sure and also read: Gun Rights Examiners comment on national parks rule
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Another cause for celebration
On this day, in 1732, a remarkable figure in American history was born.
You can read a good summary of his life here.
I frequently refer to Washington's writings during the Revolutionary War for my daily "This Day in History" entry at The War On Guns. The University of Virginia Alderman Library provides an invaluable online archive, as does The Library of Congress.
Gilbert Stuart Williamstown Portrait of George Washington/Wikimedia Commons-Public domain
Comments
The antis' would be better off mounting a campaign to rid national parks of trash. For the most part, people behave themselves there, except they throw so much trash on the ground, it is almost unbelievable. My sons and I gather at least three large trash bags full of garbage when we go fishing. And I've always had a gun. Never used it. Just in case.
One thread runs through the thinking of people who would prohibit armed self defence, not just in national parks, but everywhere. They want to live in a world that is safe and secure from all and for all. That world has never existed and probably never will. But that fact doesn't enter into their thinking. They want to pretend it does and force us to live as if it did. Some national parks are as quiet and well policed as the National Mall in DC. But some in the southwest have essentially been taken over by people conducting one sort of criminal enterprise or another. And they are not inclined to welcome the occasional visitor. How would the firearms prohibition crowd address that problem?
Another blow to the gun rights lobby? I can dig it =)
Ironic. We hand out condoms in Schools so kids can protect themselves. We ban guns so .... we can protect people??
Ya know that saying "A gun is kinda like a condom, I'd rather have one and not need it, than need one and not have it." Suddenly takes a turn for the surreal.
What's surreal is the fact that someone would associate allowing self-defense in National Parks as "Another blow to the gun rights lobby"
Justin, you can go merrily on your way unarmed and happy. Dig that.
I asked a park ranger why he was armed, he stated that there were bad guys in the woods and he needed to be able to defend himself. He walked away when I asked why he didn't think I was worthy of the same level of self-defense. before this new law, but it does show how fearful they are for themselves, but totally uncaring for the lives of the rest of us.
The real losers are black bears. They don't kill people, but love to raid food in campgrounds. The biggest danger of this new law is from some gun owners who may feel a right to protect their property from bears. For other visitors, the biggest danger may be stray bullets late at night from overzealous defenders of coolers.
People like justin go thru life in their own little world aware that bad things happen to Other People but then think no more about it until Something Bad happens to them and, if they survive, are shocked that this could happen to THEM. In Florida,after a hurricane,you can find people like justin lining up for the government hand out of food and water because they did not have the forethought to prepare for just . such an occurrence. Another name for justin is "victim ".
This is the same result that was promised during the first CCW permits in FL. No one credits CCW owners as the most law abiding crowd that exist. Statistics point this out and support it in many issue states.
The true issue is that some punk that thinks it is smart will attempt to rob or commit a crime to a CCW owner. They will get the typical reply of getting shot. Then the press will get their licks in.
This entire anti-gun thing is wearing thin with me. They are transferring the blame of a crime or behavior to a gun. What would happen if they change the word gun to car. We are now allowing cars in the parks. Well that will do all this stuff to the animals, people will try to run them over. The object might change but the idea is the same.
The press & the anti crowd needs to get over the Bubba factor. They are losing.
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