Currently there is a diary on the front page discussing the "pointless, dangerous, and gratuitously evil act" of allowing concealed weapons in National Parks. Let me ask you this question. Is it pointless, dangerous, and gratuitously evil for me to bring a concealed weapon into a National Park say...for protection...from wildlife? I think not. I live in Healy Alaska. I'm 10 miles north of the park entrance for Denali National Park. Everyday occurances here include bear encounters (not in winter of course), moose encounters, and snow in July.
I spend a lot of time in the outdoors here. Whether it be on my ATV, snowmobile, or on a good old fashioned hike. I take inherent risks when I do this. I run the risk of getting stuck 15 miles from civilization and having to walk back in the dark while its 40 degrees and raining (that sucked) and run the risk of encountering a hungry bear. This summer was one of the wettest and coldest summers in history. The berries were not growing in the park because of this, and the Grizzly bears rely on berries to make up 80% of their diet. So when i'm lawfully hiking in the park, why am I not allowed to carry a concealed (and loaded) weapon in case a hungry bear should happen to identify me as food? It doesn't make any sense to me, but i'm sure it makes a lot of sense to the rest of you. But when you live your life around these inherent dangers, you seem to have a better understanding.
I for one am excited about this new law. This will allow me the oppourtunity to feel safe while out hiking in Denali. It's one of the most beautiful places, if not most beautiful place, in the world. This is not as the original diarist points out "pointless, dangerous, and gratuitously evil". It's allowing law obiding citizens the chance to have that extra protection from the elements of nature.
This will not open up hunting season on Park Rangers. This will not open up hunting season on wildlife in the park. This will not allow drug mobs to flock into national parks. This will change nothing!
...And we wonder why we're always getting accused of wanting to take away everyones gun.