"Families should not have to stare down loaded AK-47s on nature hikes," said Brady campaign president Paul Helmke. "The president should not remain silent while Congress inserts reckless gun policies that he strongly opposes into a bill that has nothing whatsoever to do with guns.".... Helmke and other critics, including environmental groups, park rangers and the Humane Society, say the Coburn amendment goes further than the Bush administration policy that briefly allowed loaded handguns in national parks and refuges. The measure would allow individuals to openly carry rifles, shotguns and even semiautomatic weapons on ranger-led hikes and campfire programs at national parks, the groups said. Coburn said the gun measure protects every American's Second Amendment rights and also protects the rights of states to pass laws that apply to their entire state, including public lands.... "Visitors to national parks should have the right to defend themselves in accordance with the laws of their states," Coburn said.
Man, I had NO idea that our national parks were such a dangerous place- East St. Louis with better scenery, apparently. Thank GOD for dedicated, committed leaders like Tom Coburn, who's been willing to do the right thing by demanding that Americans be allowed to carry AK-47 on the hiking trails of our national parks...'cuz you just never know when you're going to run into bear...or muggers...or hungry squirrels. Coburn is that rarest of leaders, a Republican willing to stand up for our innate right to trod the trails of our national parks while pretending we're behind enemy lines in Tora Bora. Look, if terrorists can fly planes into the World Trade Center, what's to stop them from using their nefarious powers of persuasion to turn bears against us? Do we now have to wonder if that bear placidly eating salmon in the middle of that rushing river is just a bear? Or a committed Islamofascist terrorist cleverly disguised as an ursine predator? Do you really want to wait to find out until it's too late to defend your loved ones? I think not.
I wish someone could finally a way to explain to me why it could possibly be necessary to pass legislation allowing people to carry firearms in national parks. Really, besides sucking copiously at the financial teat of the National Rifle Association, does Tom Coburn actually think that the collective safety of American vacationers is at risk?
"Visitors to national parks should have the right to defend themselves in accordance with the laws of their states." From what? Don't people visit our national parks in part to get away from the risks and challenges they face in their everyday lives? What, exactly, does Coburn believe will endanger the security of Americans while they're relaxing in our national parks? What evil lurks in our nation's bucolic nature preserves? And how would any of that justifying allowing Americans to arm themselves to the teeth prior to heading off into the pristine (yet apparently quite dangerous) wilderness?
Of course, any REAL American understands the importance of establishing a secure perimeter around a campsite. I personally NEVER establish a campsite without establishing clear, interlocking fields of fire and laying down mines in areas that might cause me concern. For me, Claymores and razor wire are a must when I'm enjoying the bounty that nature has to offer. Hey, a man's gotta be able to sleep while he's camping, no? Besides, do you really want to have to deal with a bear rummaging through your food in the middle of the night?
I rest my case.
