Posted by
Average Voter on Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:25:34 PM
The U.S. Interior Department is finally going to consider letting the public bring firearms into national parks, thanks to the Bush Administration and a majority of senators. The
NRA-ILA has been spearheading this operation for years
and is finally getting a response.
“Law-abiding citizens should not be prohibited from protecting themselves and their families while enjoying America’s National Parks and wildlife refuges,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “Under this proposal, federal parks and wildlife refuges will mirror the state firearm laws for state parks. This is an important step in the right direction.”
Of course, the
New York Times editorial board had a few words on the issue.
We urge the Interior Department and the National Park Service to retain their sensible gun rules as they stand.
We also urge the 51 Senators who like the thought of guns in the parks — and everywhere else, it seems — to realize that the innocence of Americans is better protected by carefully controlling guns than it is by arming everyone to the teeth.
As usual, the Times editors seem unaware of how silly their argument is. To them, the choice is between "carefully controlling guns" and "arming everyone to the teeth." But no one favors "arming everyone to the teeth" (whatever that means). Instead, gun advocates favor freedom, choice and self-responsibility. If someone wishes to be prepared to defend himself, he should be free to do so. No one has the right to deprive others of the means of effective self-defense, like a handgun.
Having the ability to protect yourself is vital, and that ability should not be denied in a national park.