Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts' premier high adventure base -- 200+ square miles of wilderness in far northern New Mexico given to the Boy Scouts in 1938 by oilman Waite Phillips. For most Scouts, earning his Eagle Scout rank and going to Philmont are the two crown jewels, but space at Philmont is limited and every Scout can earn his Eagle Scout rank. About a million Scouts have been through Philmont, mostly on the eleven-day backpacking treks.
All of Ted Turner's 'beautiful' New Mexico land? That the second-grade stuff that was left over after Waite Phillips took his pick of the best available about 70 years earlier.
I don't carry a firearm there because it's against BSA regulations.
If I choose to go on BSA land at Philmont as a BSA leader, then I'm going to follow BSA rules; lying by omission and carrying a firearm violates the first point of the Scout Law.
If I want to take a bunch of non-BSA youth in the wilderness somewhere else, then a firearm is an option. I have that choice.
Incidentally, only a few years ago the only firearms available at BSA camps were single-shot .22 rifles and shotguns. In the move to higher adventure, semi-automatic .22 pistols are now available at camps - and for youth above the age of fourteen, there is no limit on the caliber firearm they can shoot provided the camp range can handle it, and the Troop/Crew provides the firearms and ammo. I just finished a 'Powderhorn" six-day class on high adventure opportunities, and we spent two hours on the rules on shooting large caliber firearms.
I met five youth and two leaders from a Venture Crew a few weeks ago at a training session - the weekend before, they had been at Fort Benning shooting anything and everything. Their highlight had been .50 caliber sniper rifles at 1,000 yard targets. The BSA is supported by the NRA, which ran all of the BSA's rifle ranges and shotgun ranges at the last several National Jamborees. The BSA just doesn't want firearms in the hands of Scout leaders at Philmont.
Someday, there may be a mountain lion attack there, despite the huge mule deer population. For now, I choose where to backpack. If I'm doing it on BSA land as a BSA leader, and I've agreed to abide by BSA rules, then not carrying is part of the agreement I made. If I feel as if I have to lie about it and carry a firearm? Then I don't belong on BSA land.
However, I would carry or not go. Just my choice, but having to explain why their son was chomped on or chowed down by some beast because some scout manager was either hoplophobic or worried about litigation from accidental shootings seems too high a price to pay, IMHO.
Then again I have a copy of the video of Scott Lancaster's gnawed skull, after a cougar munched down on him.
I do wonder what the donor of that land would say about the firearms dilemma you find yourself in.
I forgot to thank you in the previous post. Your explanation was interesting.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work. Scouting is probably one of the best vaccines against Obamunism.