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Take Action In Shenandoah National Park, black bears are illegally hunted for their gallbladders for sale in illegal markets. Allowing loaded guns in parks could make the problem much worse. The Department of the Interior has extended the comment period on allowing loaded guns in national parks until August 8th. Send your comments today! Fact Sheet Guns in the Parks Proposed Rule General Regulations for Areas Administered by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service Press Releases Gun Regulation in National Parks: Public Comment Period Extended to August 8 07/09/08 Washington and Oregon Officials Voice Opposition to Loaded Guns in National Parks 06/30/08 Last Shot to Comment on Regulations That Would Allow Loaded Guns in National Parks 06/25/08 Teleconference Keep Parks Safe 02/25/08

Keep Parks Safe:
Say No To Loaded Guns in Our National Parks

This is one of the most serious matters NPCA has brought to your attention in a long time. The National Rifle Association (NRA) has been pushing hard to allow loaded guns in America's national parks. Under intense political pressure orchestrated by the NRA, the Bush Administration recently proposed new regulations that would allow visitors to carry loaded, concealed firearms in national parks if the state where a national park unit is located permits people to carry concealed firearms in their state parks. Mandating that national park units abide by state park gun laws will be confusing to both visitors and park rangers and would force the creation of a new, complex (and costly) gun bureaucracy.

The NRA is trying to fix a problem that does not exist. Under the current firearm safety and uniformity regulations it is NOT UNLAWFUL to have firearms in national parks; they just have to be unloaded and safely stowed. It is a limited and reasonable requirement that enables rangers to do the job of protecting park resources and ensuring visitor safety. The current regulations, which were updated in 1983 under the Reagan Administration, have been successful at maintaining our national parks as safe family destinations. If fact, statistics show that the probability of becoming a victim of a violent crime in a national park is 1 in 708,333, which is less likely than being struck by lightening during one’s lifetime.

In response to a letter from Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-7th AZ), the Department of the Interior has extended the comment period for an additional 30 days. Thanks to you, NPCA delivered more than 22,000 letters to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in opposition to opening up the regulations. We have had tremendous success so far with this campaign--but it is far from over.

The next 30 days are just as critical as the last 60 that we’ve been running this campaign. If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to submit your comments today. We are going to make sure that your voices are heard, loud and clear. Allowing loaded guns in parks is not smart. Don’t delay, take action NOW and submit your comments before its too late!

More Information

• Chairman Akaka's and Chairman Grijalva's Letter to Secretary Kempthorne requesting an extension to the comment period, June 2008 (PDF)
• NPCA letter to Kempthorne on Heller Case, April 2008 (PDF)
• Former Directors of the National Park Service Letter to Secretary Kempthorne, April 2008 (PDF)
• Coalition of National Park Service Retirees Letter to Assistant Secretary Laverty, March 2008 (PDF)
• Ranger Groups Letter to Senate, February 2008 (PDF)
• Ranger Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police letter to Secretary Kempthorne, January 2008 (PDF)
• Senators letter to Secretary Kempthorne, February 2008 (PDF)
• Secretary Kempthorne Letter to Senators, February 2008 (PDF)
• NPCA letter to Secretary Kempthorne, January 2008 (PDF)
• Senators letter to Secretary Kempthorne, December 2007 (PDF)
• Park Service Letter Supporting Current Regulations Sent to Rep. Rahall, November 2007 (PDF)
• Park Service Letter Supporting Current Regulations Sent to Virginia Citizens Defense League, January 2007 (PDF)

In the News

• Read the New York Times Story: "Rule Change Would Permit Weapons in National Parks" (May 30, 2008) 
• Read the MSNBC Story: "Proposal would ease gun ban in national parks" (April 30, 2008)
• Read the Washington Post Story: "Gun Rules May Be Eased in U.S. Parks" (February 28, 2008)
• Read the Associated Press Story: "Park rangers, retirees oppose bid to ease nat'l park gun ban" (February 26, 2008)
• Read the L.A. Times Story: "U.S. considers easing ban on guns in national parks" (February 23, 2008)

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