Contact U.S. Senators about National Park Carry

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Published on Tuesday, 18 December 2007 05:47

Written by Mike Kinsey

There is movement afoot on our long-sought ability to carry in National Parks. As you know, federal law restricts law-abiding citizens from having a firearm there for self defense... even with a valid Concealed Handgun License.

Forty-seven Senators (at the time of the writing) led by Senator Crapo have sent a letter to the Department of the Interior asking for the federal government to leave this decision to the states. Many states do not prohibit carrying in National Forests and other federal lands for which they can make this decision.

Please take a moment to write a letter to Senators Voinovich and Brown either in your own words, or using the sample letter below. Simply copy and paste it into the contact forms at the links provided. Any responses received can be placed in our popular so that we can all be aware of our elected representatives' intentions.

Sample letter:

Dear Senator,

I am urging you to please join Senator Crapo and forty-six of your colleagues (at this point) in writing a letter to the Department of the Interior to allow state law to decide whether law-abiding citizens can carry a firearm for self-defense while visiting National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. That federal prohibition of our Second Amendment rights on land that we pay for is unjust.

As you know, Ohio Concealed Handgun Licensees are proven good guys that have passed very rigorous background checks, been fingerprinted, and taken approved training. We merely want to be able to defend ourselves from the recent upswing in violence in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges like we do everywhere else without incident.

I request the favor of a reply regarding your intentions. I will be sharing that reply with thousands of members and supporters of Ohioans For Concealed Carry, Ohio's largest grassroots firearm rights advocacy organization.

Thank you,

Contact Submission form for Senator Brown can be found HERE.

Contact Submission form for Senator Voinovich can be found HERE.


Here is a copy of the letter that Senators are sending to the Dept. of the Interior:

Dear Secretary Kempthorne:


We write today concerning a longstanding effort to have the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service remove their prohibitions on law-abiding citizens from transporting and carrying firearms on lands managed by these agencies. We appeal to you on this matter in the interest of Second Amendment rights and consistency in firearms policy across federal public land management agencies.

As you know, 36 CFR 2.4, applicable to the National Park Service, and 50 CFR 27.42, applicable to the Fish and Wildlife Service, prohibits individuals from possessing a firearm on lands managed by those agencies - even citizens with valid concealed weapons permits.

These regulations infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners, who wish to transport and carry firearms on or across these lands. Also, you will note that other federal land management agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service allow transporting and carrying of firearms on these lands in accordance with the laws of the host state. These inconsistencies in firearms regulations for public lands are confusing, burdensome, and unnecessary.

For these reasons, we support an exception to 36 CFR 2.4 and 50 CFR 27.42 to allow law-abiding citizens to transport and carry firearms consistent with state law where the National Park Service's sites and the National Wildlife Refuges are located. Such regulatory changes would respect the Second Amendment rights of law- abiding gun owners, while providing a consistent application of state weapons laws across all land ownership boundaries.

We appreciate the opportunity to share our concerns with you. Please treat this letter in conformance with all applicable procedural rules and ethical guidelines.

Sincerely,

Senator Mike Crapo

Senator Max Baucus

Senator Larry Craig

Senator Tim Johnson

Senator Jim Inhofe

Senator Jon Tester

Senator David Vitter

Senator Mark Pryor

Senator Gordon Smith

Senator Blanche Lincoln

Senator Orrin Hatch

Senator Byron Dorgan

Senator Norm Coleman

Senator Ben Nelson

Senator Tom Coburn

Senator Jim Webb

Senator Judd Gregg

Senator Lisa Murkowski

Senator John Ensign

Senator John Sununu

Senator Ted Stevens

Senator Robert Bennett

Senator Saxby Chambliss

Senator Thad Cochran

Senator Johnny Isakson

Senator John Bunning

Senator Wayne Allard

Senator John Thune

Senator Chuck Grassley

Senator Bob Corker

Senator Trent Lott

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Senator Pat Roberts

Senator Mel Martinez

Senator John Cornyn

Senator Richard Shelby

Senator Chuck Hagel

Senator Lindsey Graham

Senator Elizabeth Dole

Senator Mike Enzi

Senator John McCain

Senator John Barrasso

Senator Sam Brownback

Senator Pete Domenici

Senitor Jim DeMint

Senator Jeff Sessions

Senator Jon Kyl

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