PUBLIC SUBMISSION | As of: February 16, 2009 Tracking No. 805448d3 Comments Due: August 08, 2008 |
Docket: FWS-R9-NSR-2008-0062
General Regulations for Areas Administered by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service
Comment On: FWS-R9-NSR-2008-0062-0001
General Regulations for Areas Administered by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service
Document: FWS-R9-NSR-2008-0062-1855
Comment on FR Doc # E8-09606
Akron, OH, 44302-1204
Changing the regulations to reflect state laws regarding the carrying of firearms on
federally owned lands is a long overdue change. Citizens should not be prevented
from carrying a concealed firearm, if they are legally allowed to by their state, on
federal lands like the national parks. In Ohio, where our only national park, The
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is a long, narrow strip of land with a patchwork of
private land, federal land, state land, county land and municipal land, improved
roads and trails, through out, a citizen would have to stop and start a number of
times to comply with the regulations. While this is an exceptional case, it
demonstrates the inappropriateness of such disparate regulations. Citizens
should be held to the same standard as local laws to improve consistency and
improve the safety of all parties.
Regarding the carrying of firearms themselves, any speculation that allowing them
on public land would increase the threat of violence is preposterous. Since now 40
states have “shall-issue” or similar laws regarding the legal carry of a concealed
firearm, no increase of firearms violence has occurred. Those who use firearms
illegally, will do so regardless of the regulation, and are far less likely to approach
someone with intent to do harm if they suspect that the intended victim is carrying
a firearm. Putting more guns in to a place does not increase the likelihood of
violence. Often, just seeing the firearm on an individual is enough to have an
altercation cease.
Regarding the issue of poaching or illegal hunting, citizens with concealed firearms
licenses are not concealing firearms that are appropriate or even useful for the
purpose of hunting. While one could argue that there are a number of pistols used
for hunting, most are equipped very differently than a pistol that is used for
defensive shooting.
Why prevent citizens from protecting themselves?