National Park Gun Law Shot Down

A federal judge has blocked a law allowing concealed weapons in our nation’s parks.  The law was passed last year, under President George W. Bush, in an effort to bring State and Federal laws on concealed weapons in parks on a more even keel.  Some states allowed them, some didn’t.  Under federal law, concealed weapons were restricted in all National Parks, while many state parks allowed for the practice.  Under President Bush’s law, concealed weapons were legalized on Jan. 9th, as long as they did not violate any state laws on the matter.  Confused?

From “The Daily Dirt Blog” at Backpacker Magazine:

“Kollar-Kotelly issued her ruling after the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees filed suit claiming the Bush administration violated several existing laws in their rush to allow guns in national parks. The judge agreed, calling the government’s process in passing the regulation “astoundingly flawed.”

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling may upset the more than 41 million gun owners and NRA advocates, while also offending the U.S. Justice Department.  The U.S. Justice Department was hoping to be able to block any ruling against the concealed weapons law.  So far, that hasn’t happened.  Anyone else feel like this might be setting the stage for a big Supreme Court showdown?  Nobody appreciates a good duel more than a gun owner…

Guns In Our National Parks: Part V

The debate on allowing guns in our National Parks has been heating up of late.  President George w. Bush is a big advocate for overturning an almost 100 year old law to allow guns back into our National Parks, with a valid permit and some regulations regarding how they can be carried.  Since GWB only has a couple more months in office, this debate is starting to heat up as many people are wondering if he will actually overturn the National Park gun laws, or wait and let the next Presidency decide.

I have followed this issue quite closely for almost a year now.  You can tell by the title of this post that this is the fifth part to a series of posts on this very issue.  You will be able to get the backstory momentarily, as well as the links to those previous articles.

Before we get to that point, though, there have become a couple more issues to recently come to light about allowing guns back in our National Parks.  Probably the biggest issue will be the next Presidency.  President-elect Barack Obama has been an advocate for MORE STRINGENT gun laws.  This would seem to conflict with now President Bush’s plan for this issue.  If Bush would sign this into law, it is very likely that Barack would overturn this issue.  Most of us know that Mr. Obama will be doing just that to many of George W. Bush’s other measures, so why not this one as well?

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China To Establish New National Park System

China has recently approved a measure to establish it’s first National Park.  Tangwanghe National Park will be used as a pilot opportunity to bring a conservation and environmental preservation approach to an area that has formally focused on generating tourism and revenue.

This isn’t the first park in China to be designated a ‘National Park’, but this is the first one to actually garner that designation from an environmental and conservation standpoint.  Many of the other major parks in China have been used extensively as tourist attractions.

If the proposed new park works out as planned, it could become a small part of a much bigger project that would establish a wider array of protected parks and lands across China that doesn’t focus soley on revenue and tourists.

Tangwanghe national park is located at the south of Lesser Hinggan Mountains in Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, in the northeast of China. The park is composed of primeval forests and geological relics.

The vegetation coverage of the park is above 99.8 percent. The area is most famous for its virgin forests of Korean pines. The mixed broadleaved Korean pine forest here is the most well-preserved in Asia. And the geological relics are unique in China.

Along with the conservation and environmental aspects of Tangwanghe National Park, there will now be areas that can be used for scientific and research purposes that will be protected from China’s evergrowing population and sprawl.

Tangwanghe National Park will be joining more than 10,000 national parks in over 200 world countries and regions.  This is the first for China.  I, for one, am glad to see them finally making this step to protect some of their own country’s treasures.  When it comes to conservation and protection, no matter what my personal thoughts are on China, this can’t be looked at any other way than being a positive.

Sources:  Backpacker Magazine’s Daily Dirt blog, Xinhau News 

Everglades National Park Expands To The Tune Of $1.7 Billion

Everglades National Park just got a huge boost from corporate america–or rather the demise of corporate America.

U.S. Sugar, in a landmark deal with the State of Florida, has decided to give up business and move out. What exactly does this mean? Everglades National Park will now become the new owners of almost 300 square miles of Everglades land. U.S. Sugar happens to be one of the nation’s leading producers of cane suger–an industry that has been noted for ravaging the Florida Everglades, polluting the area, and drawing away vast amounts of resources away from the wetlands.

It didn’t come cheap, though. In response for the opportunity to have U.S. Sugar move out of the area, Florida will be paying the company a total of $1.7 billion dollars. The deal also comes with a stipulation…U.S. Sugar can continue operations until 2014 on their current land. When 2014 comes around, U.S. Sugar will close up shop and move out. This will enable Florida to merge the three hundred miles of new wetlands with the Everglades National Park System and protect an additional 300 miles of area from future development.

The area being purchased lies just south of Lake Okeechobee. Wrapped up in the deal is all cane fields, a road, a railroad line, and almost 187,000 new acres of wetlands.

This is a huge deal for one of the world’s most endangered eco-systems. The Florida Everglades are home to the American Crocodile, Florida panther, and the West Indian Manatee, as well as a host of other rare and endangered species. Everglades National Park is a designated International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage site, and a Wetland of International Importance.

I always love these stories. Anytime a national park can expand and offer new conservation, environmental initiatives, as well as protect those species listed as endangered or threatened–it’s a good day for the outdoors.

To read more on this click Landmark Deal for Everglades National Park. Once your done there, go explore the Everglades National Park website. Finally, come on back and enjoy an article I wrote a few months back about Kayaking In Everglades National Park.

Guns in National Parks? What’s Your View?

The debate for less restrictions on gun laws in national parks has been going on for well over a year. Some say that an increase in weapons in the park system could spark more crime, but gun lobbyists say that it is only right that they should have the same laws in national parks as they do on the streets. Plus, if concealed weapons are allowed, lobbyists actually say crime might drop if everyone is allowed to carry.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is looking for public input on this very issue. Over the next few days a list of new ‘proposed rules’ allowing guns in the national parks will be posted. The National Rifle Association and 51 senators have urged a review of current statutes in regards to gun laws in national parks. They say that current rules should come in accordance with state statutes on this issue, rather than seperate rules and regulations for different areas.

This is all bound to spark even greater debate in the outdoors circles and will force the issue to get a closer look at the public’s input. Dirk Kempthorne’s list of rules will be up for 60 days. During that time, the public is urged to show their support for, or against, the newly proposed gun laws by commenting.

These new rules will be placed on the federal register at www.doi.gov

The Outside Blog states the the newly proposed rules would allow the public to carry concealed weapons in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges, if the states in question currently allow this practice on public lands-of which, 48 of them do.

With the National Rifle Association and 51 Senators backing this new proposal, it will be interesting to see exactly how much of the public supports these new measures. Backpacker Magazine, who will be running the results of a poll on this exact same topic in their next issue, has already publicly released the results saying that 74% of their readers oppose these new measures, while 26% agree. It is not known to myself how many took part in this poll.

What is known is that for any thoughts on this issue you may have, the government is now looking to hear from you. What are your thoughts on this issue? Should the public be allowed to carry concealed weapons in the National Parks? What are your reasonings? Make a comment and let us know!

Adventurist Issues: ATV and Off-Road Vehicles in Our Parks: Part II, The Environmentalists Speak Out

I have recently jumped on an issue that has sparked a bit of controversy in the press: the use of ATV and Off-Road Vehicles in our parks. This issue has been an ongoing debate amongst those who ride, environmentalists, lawmakers, and the public. Many are for, many are against.

A couple of days ago, I put up my thoughts on what could be done to perhaps satisfy both sides a bit–I am not going to take a stand on this issue, but rather try to put up both sides and let you, my readers, decide for yourselves where you stand. My job is to inform.

Today I am taking a look at a recent article published over on the ENN–The Environmental News Network–concerning this issue. Their article, “Apache-Sitgreaves Off-Road Vehicle Plan Will Put Arizona’s Crown Jewel White Mountains at Risk,” takes a look at a recent proposal by the Arizona Forest Service to put in Off-Road Vehicle trails in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Read more

Grand Teton National Park: A History by National Parks Traveler

National Parks Traveler happens to be one of my favorite blogs dealing with the US National Park System.  Today they have put up a piece on the history of Grand Teton National Park.  As far as National Parks go, this one always rates towards the top of the list.

The Grand Teton National Park was set aside by Congress in 1929.  It took over 30 years of battling to finally have it preserved with a little help from John Rockefeller Jr.

The article goes into detail about the ensuing battles and tribulations of one of our Nation’s most beautiful parks and ecosystems.

The “original” Grand Teton National Park was set aside by Congress on this date in 1929, but its borders only surrounded the Tetons and their six glacial lakes, leaving out much of the pastoral landscape that today wraps U.S. 191/89/26.

Who would have thought that the Tetons were not even a part of the original park?

Click on over to National Parks Traveler to read the rest of this parks magnificent history.

Gun Ban in U.S. National Parks to be Overturned

For well over 100 years guns have been banned in our National Park system.  That is getting ready to change.

A majority of the United States Senate–Yes, Republicans AND Democrats have voted unanimously to move forward with repealing the century old law and move in favor of allowing armed weapons into our national parks.  This will be done in hopes of aligning the federal laws up with many state laws that now allow firearms in state parks.

If you’re hiking in the backcountry and there is a problem with a criminal or an aggressive animal, there’s no 911 box where you can call police and have a 60-second response time,” said Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association. “Here in Montana, we are very used to being able to provide for our own personal protection.

This will be a touchy subject for many individuals.  Anytime a gun law is enacted or repealed it becomes a pretty big scene of chaos for those for or against armed weapons.

Could this open up all of our National Parks to hunting?  Would there be a special permit to buy at the parks–hopefully used to help support our park system?

At this point, it is quite hard to tell the general effects of this law and the reverberations that undoubtedly ensue.  One thing is for sure though, I don’t suggest hiking while wearing a bear suit anymore.

Table Mountain National Park: Beauty, Intrigue, and Crime…

Table Mountain National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in South Africa has been riddled by a recent crime wave.

Actually, the crime has become so bad at this World Heritage Site that the Park released a warning to people heading that way to be overly alert.

On Tuesday, a cyclist was robbed of his bike at gunpoint.  Another incident involved a female hiker being forced to disrobe in front of her attackers.

Table Mountain National Park has close to 50 rangers on patrol at all times, and that number swells to close to 200 on weekends–but some are complaining that this is still not enough.

Being a World Hertiage Site..this could actually effect it’s future statis on this list.  If it can not allow for the safety of it’s visitors, then the designation will more than likely be taken away in 2010–the next time the Park comes up for review.

For more on this interesting story, you can click over to the Cape Times.  If you would like to read more on Table Mountain National Park to see what possibly could be at stake, click HERE.  For the latest Crime Prevention Update from Table Mountain National Park, well, you know what to do..