Our View: Federal lands should have consistent gun rules (From Idaho)

Idaho Statesman ^ | 1/7/08 | Idaho Statesman

[Domandred]

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne should listen to his colleagues from Idaho and almost half of the U.S. Senate and give gun-carrying Americans consistent rules to follow.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo asked Kempthorne to repeal a federal gun restriction in national parks and wildlife refuges because the guidelines are "confusing, burdensome and unnecessary.''

We agree with Crapo and 47 senators, including Sen. Larry Craig, who support the change. Crapo spent two weeks getting signatures on a letter to Kempthorne; 39 Republicans and eight Democrats signed on (the Democrats included both of Montana's senators).

The letter asks federal agencies to change rules that prohibit visitors to most national parks and wildlife refuges from carrying active, loaded guns.

Gun restrictions vary from Bureau of Land Management acreage to other federal lands to state land. But in all instances - except in most national parks - gun owners can transport a gun that is unavailable for use. That means the gun remains assembled but does not sit on someone's lap or in a hip holster.

Generally, guns are allowed in national parks but must be broken down, instead of simply packed in a case out of reach. (There are some exceptions, particularly in Alaska, and in 59 national park units where people can hunt and carry weapons during hunting season.)

Active, loaded guns are allowed at Idaho state parks. Those who carry a gun must abide by state laws, including Idaho's law on concealed weapons.

The federal change would respect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. It also simply makes sense. The vast array of current laws and rules are too confusing to follow. Many backcountry boundaries between state and federal lands are not marked. Idahoans don't always know whose land they are standing on and, therefore, which rules apply.

[Domandred]

Caught this editorial this morning and thought I would post it.

[DuncanWaring]

Ping.

[Jaxter]

"confusing, burdensome and unnecessary.''

You could say the exact same thing about right to concealed carry laws. Like a driver's license, a concealed carry permit from one state should be honored by all.

[Joe Brower]

"repeal a federal gun restriction in national parks and wildlife refuges because the guidelines are "confusing, burdensome and unnecessary.''"

Sounds good to me.

[Dead Corpse]

Couldn’t Bush repeal this using an EO? Not that I’m holding my breath...

[Billthedrill]

Idaho BTT. The bottom line is that if you don't want to research a Byzantine set of rules every time you enter public land in Idaho, get a concealed weapons permit. It's easier.

I'm actually all for the localization of government authority on a broad basis, but this sort of confusion results from too many people acting independently. Kind of rough on the customer.

[from occupied ga]

Couldn’t Bush repeal this using an EO? Not that I’m holding my breath...

Of course he could, as he could have repealed his daddy's EO banning the import of a number of semi-automatics, but that would be a conservative thing to do, and Bush is no conservative.

[rahbert]

but the result of that EO was to spark the boom (bad pun)
in semiauto firearm and accessory development in this country. STI now make a steyr aug clone, and there are clones
of HK91 and SiG ugly rifles. Not to mention the AR clone
industry (I need a Fulton Arms FAR308!)..

we are better off with Americans making and selling these
here.

[from occupied ga]

we are better off with Americans making and selling these

Not too sure about that. I believe the cost went up considerably for the domestic versions which reduces the number in the general populace. One of the short term goals of antigunners. Do you have a link for the STI aug clone?

[Dead Corpse]

I’d still love to get my hands on a Hungarian Gepard M6. 12.7mmx107 is a bit flatter at long range than the more standard 12.7mmx99 (aka .50BMG). Because of an idiotic EO, I can’t buy one legally...

[from occupied ga]

I'd like one in 14.5, or better still a steyr iws2000 but neither is available.

[rahbert]

I wish we could have the pre - 1934 NFA regime
since I’d like an FN FND in 6.5x55.

just pointing out how the EO has unwittingly
benefitted our industry. wonder if they lobbied
GHWB behind the scenes...?

[muawiyah]

Here in Northern Virginia there are all sorts of federal lands ranging from Forest to Park, and maybe even some grazing (although I'd not know where), plus a plethora of combined federal and state security zones, water resource reserves, national monuments etc.

Imagine it, we got it.

Our problem is with likker laws. Fairfax County says "no likker" and the National Park Service says "no likker here but likker there", and the Department of Interior's Forest Service doesn't care ~ and sometimes these federal properties butt up against and intertwine with the county and state parks, forests, preserves and other government owned lands.

We need a likker law standard that says we can have large kegs of beer with spouts on them if we are within sight of a US Forest Service sign.

Something like that.

Same with the guns. Problem here is the other way around, Virginia says you can openly carry any sort of gun. The federales restrict them. Makes it doggone impossible to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon on public property popping cans and then blowing them away.

[Grut]

Couldn’t Bush repeal this using an EO? Not that I’m holding my breath...

Bush believes that RKBA is an individual right, so it's up to individuals to defend it.... ;^)

[budwiesest]

The vast array of current laws and rules are too confusing to follow.

The second ammendment is an American citizen's gun permit. If it doesn't apply then neither do the rest. And you ain't living in America. Sorry to burst the bubble.