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
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| Mike Crapo, Idaho's senior senator. | |
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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
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Comments
"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.
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.
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."
Now here comes Mike Crapo as the new Idaho lapdog for the NRA.