Dec 9 1994

XX
XX
Elko, Nevada XX

Dear XX

     Senator Harry Reid forwarded your letter to this Department
and asked us to respond to your concerns.

     Your letter indicates that you are paraplegic. You state
objections to the passage of gun control legislation that outlaws
semi-automatic weapons because such weapons are the only types
you can use due to your disability. It appears that
congressional action to repeal or modify the legislation is
necessary to address your concern.

     You also seek a personal exemption from "dumb" wilderness
laws. You indicate that you are being denied access to
wilderness areas because, due to your disability, the only means
of access is via a snowmobile or ATV which apparently are not
permitted. It is not clear from your letter whether the areas
are national or state parks. If the areas are national parks,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies and requires
modification of policies and procedures where necessary to
provide access to persons with disabilities, unless such
modifications would create an undue financial or administrative
burden or fundamentally alter the nature of the program. The
same type of reasonable modification is required under title II
of the Americans with Disabilities Act if the areas are state
parks. You may wish to inquire of park authorities whether a
modification of the vehicle policies will be made for you. We
are unfamiliar with the circumstances involved, and take no
position on whether the type of modification you seek is
reasonable under Section 504 or title II of the ADA.

cc: Records; Chrono; Wodatch; Magagna; McDowney; MAF; FOIA
    udd\magagna\congress\reid

01-03503

                                - 2 -

     A copy of this response has been sent to Senator Reid.

                              Sincerely,


                           John L. Wodatch
                                Chief
                         Public Access Section

cc: Senator Harry Reid

01-03504

                        94 JUN 20

                                        XX
                                        Elko, Nevada 89801
                                        XX  

11 June 1994

Senator Harry Reid
SH-324
Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-2803

Please be advised that the current frenzy for legislating against
semi-automatics, pistol grips, barrel shroud and threaded muzzles
is sheer stupidity. I am a XX          paraplegic who uses a Colt
AR-15 for everything from deer hunting to plinking at cans. In as
much as I do not have back muscle control, as an outcome of the
accident and the paraplegia, the semi-auto with a pistol grip and
muzzle break are indispensable for me to be able to hold and shoot
a rifle other than one of the "Youth Models" which is single shot,
a short and very light weight.

The solution to the problem is to enforce the more than 22,000
existing laws and leave the law abiding citizen alone. Stop
passing cosmetic and "feel good" legislation based on looks and
functions of firearms, such as semi-auto, by concentrating on
criminal usage and putting the scum bags in jail.

Add to that the fact that I am excluded from entering some of the
best mountainous areas of my state by the enactment of the dumb
wilderness laws. For me to get to some of them, it means either a
gasoline powered snowmobile or an ATV. Can I be provided an
exemption under the accommodations of the Americans With
Disabilities Act to use what ever means necessary to get there.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
XX

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