Posted on 03/22/2009 5:32:58 AM PDT by marktwain
Do concealed handguns contribute to air pollution? There are more than a dozen national parks and wildlife refuges in Georgia, and now your right to bear arms in Georgia’s national parks and refuges has been swept away by a federal judge in Washington DC. Yesterday, United States District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Kenneth L. Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, not to implement the new regulation that permits loaded, concealed firearms on national park and wildlife refuges until the Court can make a final decision on whether to enjoin the new regulation permanently. This new regulation had taken effect on January 9, 2009 and removed a ban on such weapons.
The inaptly named "Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence" sued three days before the new rule took effect, claiming that the Department of the Interior, which oversees national parks and wildlife refuges, had failed to study the environmental impact of the new rule. Judge Kollar-Kotelly agreed, finding that the Department of the Interior and the Secretary "abdicated their Congressionally mandated obligation to evaluate all reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts."
So what is the environmental impact that a concealed, holstered pistol might have in a park? Judge Kollar-Kotelly answers this question by explaining "that persons who possess concealed, loaded, and operable firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges will use them for any number of reasons, including self-defense against persons and animals." In other words, Judge Kollar-Kotelly believes that your right to self defense is harmful to the environment. As if to emphasize the point, Judge Kollar-Kotelly states on page 32 of the opinion that the question is not "whether persons carrying concealed firearms will use them more often than the general public, but rather, whether they will use them at all." (Emphasis in original).
"If the firearms will be used, then the Final Rule will obviously have some impact on the environment, whether direct, indirect, or cumulative."
Oddly, the "environmental impact" is not lead poisoning or anything else recognizable as environmental pollution, but a subjective fear that some Brady members have of Americans bearing arms. Several Brady members "are now concerned for their personal safety in parks and refuges and cannot fully enjoy their visits to certain national parks or wildlife refuges because they feel less safe." Judge Kollar-Kotelly held that such irrational fears constituted "irreparable harm."
On the other hand, Judge Kollar-Kotelly declared that her decision will create "no substantial harm" to the right to bear arms. Since the rule banning weapons was in place for 25 years, there is no reason why Americans "would be substantially harmed" by waiting until the Court makes a final decision on the park regulation.
There is no word yet on whether national park rangers will arrest when they discover concealed pistols.
David Codrea, Gun Rights Examiner, is also reporting on this federal decision.
Dave Workman, Seattle Gun Rights Examiner, reports that the Brady Campaign is misrepresenting the process that resulted in the new parks rule.
Randi Menitor, National Parks Examiner, presents the view that, for "now, it’s a good thing that the U.S. District Court blocked the ill-researched and hastily passed concealed carry rule." Until the decision on the merits, "people who fear gun owners can continue to visit the national parks and feel safe."
CLINTON STOOGE ...
Since the rule banning weapons was in place for 25 years, there is no reason why Americans “would be substantially harmed” by waiting until the Court makes a final decision on the park regulation.
This is a perfect example of the ratchet effect of leftwing legislation. Thye’ve violated our constitutional rights for 25 years so there’s no harm in continuing to violate our constitutional rights. Riiight.
The judge wants to keep our parks safe for serial killers, kidnappers and rapists, like the one who killed Meredith Emerson in Georgia.
It isn't like shooting teams are going into Yellowstone and spending a day target practicing and leaving lead and spent brass all over the place.
Anyone who has ever come upon a bear on a hike or camping understands the very sane, very practical, and God-given inalienable right to carry a firearm into the wilderness.
From her bio:
“...in May 2002 Chief Justice Rehnquist appointed Judge Kotelly to serve as Presiding Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court , which is a 7-year appointment.”
America, we have found the leak within the FISA Court.
This “judge’s” argument is a classic case of reductio ad absurdum. The same “logic” process could be used to ban ANYTHING from the public parks - up to and including the public itself.
This woman is either an utter moron or an ideologically motivated cynic. In either case, it’s time to stop wondering how such individuals land in these positions of authority and responsibility and focus on how to replace them with properly functioning adults.
“It isn’t like shooting teams are going into Yellowstone and spending a day target practicing and leaving lead and spent brass all over the place.”
You really are missing the point on this great decision. Supposing someone is trying to protect themselves or their family from a serial rapist in a National Park. What happens if they miss the bad guy and end up shooting a tree. They could potentially harm the tree and maybe even kill it. Someone has to stand up for the rights of trees.
Did everyone miss this part?
Isn’t abortion also harmful for the environment?
This week I will make an extra big burnt-offering sacrifice to Gaia when I put my recyclables out. I'll also kneel at the curb and beg Her for forgiveness and enlightenment so that I never make such a grievous error again.
Someone needs to explain to this imbecile (speaking slowly and using small words) that this is how the rest of us have felt for years. She is absolutely clueless. The worst part is that someone was stupid enough to grant her the power and influence of being a judge.
... people who fear gun owners can continue to visit the national parks and feel safe.
Mental therapy for clinical paranoids.
“I’ll also kneel at the curb and beg Her for forgiveness and enlightenment so that I never make such a grievous error again.”
That might do it, but I suggest you make a paper mache tree and keep lit candles around it till the enviro god forgives you.
So if natural selection is the base of evolution the liberals are afraid of the Conservatives gaining in the evolution process? I don’t believe in liberals or evolution so you don’t get my guns or my rights.
Would touching off a round or two in self-defense be more harmful to the environment than building a camp fire, or taking a leak in the weeds?
**if natural selection is the base of evolution**
Liberals preach Evolution like a GOSPEL, yet the same LIBERALS set in place Programs Designed to THWART natural selection at EVERY TURN!!
“Anyone who has ever come upon a bear on a hike or camping “
Humans are 1000x more dangerous than any animals.
I know they are. Timothy Treadwell told me so.
Amen Brother
:o) Stories like yours are reasons why I’m ready when enjoying the great outdoors.
Sorry honey, but should I visit one of our national parks, I will be armed.
Do concealed handguns contribute to air pollution NO they remove felons reduces pollution.
This stupid bitch is going to get someone killed.
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