The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (part of the Department of the Interior (DOI)), has announced the final changes to rules on carrying of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. This move will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners who wish to transport and carry firearms for lawful purposes on most DOI lands, and will make federal law consistent with the state law in which these public lands are located. The National Rifle Association (NRA) led the effort to amend the existing policy regarding the carrying and transportation of firearms on these federal lands.
The change was announced by DOI on December 5 and will then be published in the Federal Register. The rule will then take effect 30 days later. In short, the new regulations allow right-to-carry permit holders to exercise their Second Amendment rights on national park and wildlife refuges in those states that recognize such permits. We will finally have the consistency we've been lacking on federal lands. In the past, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands allowed the carrying of firearms, while lands managed by DOI did not.
As you can imaginge, the anti-gunners have begun their whining as they predict bloodshed in the woods, just like they've predicted bloodshed in the streets every time another state implements "shall issue" right-to-carry laws. You'd think by now they'd realize that they're wrong ... that their predictions never materialize. We suppose that you have to consider the source, huh?
Let's say it again so we're all clear ... Once the rule is in effect, those with a valid right-to-carry permit (you know ... those upstanding citizens that have undergone background checks and carry guns today in their cities and towns) will also be able to carry in national park and wildlife refuges in those states that recognize such permits.
Let's chalk one up for common sense.
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