Guns and Politics

Just before Memorial Weekend, President Obama signed, without comment, an amendment to the credit card reform act which will allow loaded, concealed weapons into National Parks.

Couple of things.  First, in reading the response to this amendment, particularly by the National Park Rangers, I am more than a little concerned that many if not most rangers believe many if not most visitors already carry weapons!  Yikes!  Is that how our rangers are being trained, to believe every single person visiting a National Park is armed and dangerous?  Last time I'll ever ask where the restroom is!

Second, let's just acknowledge right here and now that the National Rifle Association and the "gun lobby," has won the gun control debate.  It's over.  Despite people's paranoia that Obama is going to "take away guns," it ain't going to happen.  The buzzer has sounded, game over.

But, mark my words.  Every time a charismatic mega-fauna is shot (read grizzly, moose, bison, wolf) in a National Park, the National Park Ranger's Association will shout out loud that loaded and concealed weapons should not be allowed inside the boundaries of National Parks.  The debate is not over but the game is.