GUN POLITICS IS GETTING VERY INTERESTING
Crapo Introduces Bill to Codify National Park Gun Rule
Gun politics is getting very interesting. Will Congress record a vote on guns in national parks? Will the President sign it?
By Bill Schneider, 4-04-09
A lot of people might wonder why and how the national parks became a Second Amendment battleground, but nobody really thinks the war will end anytime soon. Now, Congress has decided to make sure the fight goes on.
On January 9, a Bush administration rule to allow loaded and concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges went into effect, but the Brady Campaign and National Parks and Conservation Association sued to overturn it, successfully. On March 19, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of Washington, D.C. granted the plaintiffs an injunction to prevent the Department of the Interior from implementing the rule. One day later, the National Rifle Association (NRA) appealed, but the judge has not ruled on the appeal.
Now, on April 2, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced a bill (S.816) to codify the Bush administration rule to, according to a NRA alert, “restore the Second Amendment rights of visitors in national parks and wildlife refuges.”
Crapo’s bill is identical to H.R. 1684 introduced on March 24 in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA).
At least in the Senate, the national park gun rule is breaking down party lines. Crapo has four co-sponsors for his bill, including Montana’s Democratic senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Arkansas Democrat Blanche Lincoln, along with Utah Republican Bob Bennett. Hasting has 14 co-sponsors for his bill, all Republican.
Politically, this could get very interesting. The NRA has decided to make the national park rule a priority, and the Brady Campaign has decided to make stopping it a priority.
With Attorney General Eric Holder trying to get Congress to approve a so-called assault weapons ban and President Obama full of stingers from gun owners who claim he plans to renege on his campaign promises, what happens if Congress sends the national park gun rule bill to the White House? Will the President sign it?
Also, this bill will do exactly what many members of Congress, especially Democrats, are in a panic to avoid, making a recordable vote on a gun issue that’s sure to be a headliner in their next campaign.
Stay tuned.
Related articles:
Court Shoots Down Park Gun Rule
Let National Park Gun Rule Stand
Salasar and National Park Gun Rule
Bush Comes Through for the NRA on National Park Rule
Don’t Waste Time on Rule Allowing Concealed Guns in National Parks
Hi Bill. I agree with your statement:
"Politically, this could get very interesting. The NRA has decided to make the national park rule a priority, and the Brady Campaign has decided to make stopping it a priority."
Interesting, indeed. But with one group having the backing of history, law, and the second amendment, and the other group having to rely on trumped up justifications to infringe the right of the people ... the outcome may be somewhat less interesting than some would hope.
By the way, how many dues-paying members does the NRA have? How many does the Brady Campaign have? Most people estimate NRA membership at four million ... but I have tried and failed to find a membership number for the Brady Campaign.
So, this comes less than two weeks after we sucked it up, kept our irritation about the blurring of what should or shouldn't be allowed in Wilderness to ourselves, did our best to wear our "collaborative" hat, and lauded Senator Crappo for his efforts on that ever-so-imperfect public lands bill. Well, this will teach us to let our guard down on the false flags that Republican filth can fly when it suits their purposes. At this point, it isn't really about guns in parks as far as I'm concerned. I tend to be a pragmatist; but, this time, it's finally gotten to the point that it's about "principles" and Crappo's use of cheap tricks and false flags. It's now about filthy Republican political maneuvers and not letting the bastards get away with it.
Comment By Mike, 4-05-09I guess the economy is fine in Idaho, and everyone has health care.
Comment By Jack in bozeman, 4-05-09with the heller ruling looming over liberals heads, they have no place to go with outright total bans on ossesing or carrying. Bush did what they needed to do to comply with the ruling. With brady and the other anti gunners chiming in to reverse the rule, they will ultimately make thier stance worse as individual states get involved and loosen the requirements further. poor dumb bastards.
As far as congress is concerned, they are fully aware that more and more of the Right are waking up to thier games and arming up, they know that it would be political suicide to re-introduce a gun ban, and quite possibly start several SERIOUS seccesion type activities and massive violent anti government backlash. They are not fools.
"By Mike, 4-05-09
I guess the economy is fine in Idaho, and everyone has health care."
Did you read the bill? It is not even 1 (ONE) page and probably took an aid most of an hour(maybe) to write it....
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges Act’.
SEC. 2. FIREARMS IN NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES.
Except as provided in section 930 of title 18, United States Code, a person may possess, carry, and transport concealed, loaded, and operable firearms within a national park area or national wildlife refuge area in accordance with the laws of the State in which the national park area or national wildlife refuge area, or that portion thereof, is located."
What a silly thing to spend this much time on. Salazar hit the nail on the head when he called guns in National Parks a "distraction". Both the Brady Campaign and the NRA have more influential issues they could address. This is political maneuvering for the sake of maneuvering.
Comment By Jim Greer, 4-07-09I love it when people start using the "Congress should have more important things to do" argument when an issue comes up that they disagree with. This is pretty much the same as trying to tell the cop who's writing you a speeding ticket that he should be out catching murderers, and I think you all know how well that argument works.
Comment By Mike, 4-07-09Health care is far more important right now. So is the economy. This gun issue is a distraction for a weird set of people who view guns as some kind of religion.
Comment By JC, 4-07-09Does a bear CRAPO in the woods?
Comment By Ann, 4-09-09Don't know about bears anymore but Dinasours did.
Comment By Technology outsourced, 4-11-09Mike Crapo is on the Senate Banking Committee. Mike Crapo has been a lapdog for the ripoff wall street banking industry. Mike Crapo helped the wall street banking industry outsource thousands of Idaho technology jobs overseas to China and India for cheap labor. Thousands of Idaho jobs lost at Micron and HP. Idaho's economy is severely damaged for many years to come.
Now here comes Mike Crapo as the new Idaho lapdog for the NRA.
Glad I got to read this
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