A few years ago, I made a trip to the Banff National Park in Canada. As with many national parks both here and in Canada, it was a beautiful place. At one point, we had to stop and wait for about 15 minutes until a group of mountain goats decided they wanted to get out of the middle of the road. A little further along, a moose emerged from the forest and loped along beside our car for about a quarter mile until he got bored and disappeared back into the foliage.
These were magical experiences and made our visit to the area much better. The animals in the park were obviously not afraid of humans, and therefore did not try to hide from them.
The reason for this is because the government there is very serious about keeping guns out of their parks. Guns must not only be unloaded and packed away, but they are put in a bag with a special seal. If the seal is broken when you leave the park, you are in a lot of trouble. They do this to protect the animals and make the park experience better for visitors.
Although they don't go to those lengths, many U.S. National Parks also prohibit guns. But our Texas senators, Cornyn and Hutchison, would like to change that. They want to change the law to allow Americans to carry firearms into our National Parks. Fearing a possible Democratic landslide in the coming election, they are trying to save themselves by pandering to the large number of gun owners.
Now I am not one of those who think we should outlaw gun ownership. I can read, and I know the Constitution guarantees the right of the people to own and bear arms. But allowing guns in our National Parks is just a very bad idea.
There are too many nuts among us that would think it funny to use protected animals as target practice. They would not only drive the animals away and ruin the park experience for everyone, but they would make a park visit much more dangerous. We'd have to worry about dodging stray bullets because some jerk thought it was cool to take potshots at a park animal.
There is no legitimate reason to allow guns inside our National Parks. This is just one more reason we must see that Cornyn is defeated in the upcoming election.
Goddamn it. I don't know how much more of this sort of crap I can take. Has everyone lost their collective minds?
ReplyDeleteThank Gawd a Spears has spit forth another child so everyone can be distracted so they won't see their country go down the drain.
No reason - ever? NOT! In 1979, while working in Yellowstone with a group of other scientists studying trouble bears, two of us were attacked by a Grizzly. Contrary to popular belief (and I'm a wildlife biologist), playing dead does not always work. I had no choice but to draw my 45 revolver and kill the bear. It was him or us.
ReplyDeleteYellowstone still has signs up that REQUIRE carrying a gun when entering certain areas, and for good reason.
So to use absolutes is insanity. There should be reason and good judgement, not an outright ban.
Umm, how many nuts are there in America who think using animals of any kind, let alone protected ones, for target practice is fun? All the hunters I know would be likely to assault and or citizens arrest any sick individual they found torturing animals.
ReplyDeleteThere are two main legitimate reasons to allow guns into parks - one is liberty, the other is self defense. I won't go into bear country without a large bore high powered revolver. Proper safety gear is a must, and guns are proper safety gear where ever you go.
Those who abuse their rights and harm others or protected animals should spend decades in prison. No reason or need to punish innocent people and endanger their lives and liberty merely because there are a few sick nuts out there.
Patrick -
ReplyDeleteI think there are quite a few of these nuts out there. Just read my 12/21/07 post.