Brady Campaign Sues to Stop New National Park Gun Rules

Written by Daniel White

Tuesday, 30 December 2008 09:01

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence file a Federal lawsuit against the Interior Department today in an effort to stop the new rules allowing concealed carry license holders to carry their firearms for personal protection in National Parks.

The Bush Administrations last-minute gift to the gun lobby, allowing concealed semiautomatic weapons in national parks, jeopardizes the safety of park visitors in violation of federal law, said Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke. We should not be making it easier for dangerous people to carry concealed firearms in our parks.

Hardly a "last minute gift," this life saving and common sense rule change was a result of years of efforts of law abiding citizens who were tired of their right to self defense being taken from them simply because they were in a national park. The Department of the Interior carefully considered the issue and did not "rush" the rule change as was claimed by the Bradies.

The Brady campaign, with their usual propensity for lying, also claims that "numerous studies" have shown that concealed carry does nothing to reduce crime, even going so far as to claim it increases crime! Of course, that is directly contrary to the findings of non-biased studies, including the years of research by economist John Lott.

The very idea that a concealed carry license holder, having undertaken training, background checks, and subject to stringent regulations, is out committing crimes en masse is preposterous. If it was really happening, it would be plastered all over the anti-gun media outlets.

The truth is, this change returns the right of self-defense to millions of concealed carry license holders in this country. Every time a piece of pro-gun legislation passes, the anti-gun crowd cries wolf and predicts blood in the streets, or in this case, hiking trails. Every time, they are proven wrong. The intelligent American shouldn't believe the hype, and should instead get the facts for themselves. Of course, the fact that pro gun laws and concealed carry reform is sweeping the country shows just how out of touch the anti-gun crowd is with the average American.

Click here for more information about the rule change.