"But this O. Schrutt is real...Animals don't sleep when O. Schrutt is on the prowl, and neither do I." John Irving, "Setting Free the Bears"
The New York Times and other major news outlets are reporting that coupled with credit card reform legislation passed by Congress and now on the way to President Obama for approval is a gun measure that allows visitors to national parks and wildlife refuges to carry loaded weapons if they are otherwise licensed to possess them. Yes, only in America are our legislative leaders too timid to put a cap on credit card interest rates but unafraid to allow people to shoot guns in wildlife and environmental sanctuaries. Am I the only one to find this a bit, how shall I say it with moderation, insane?
From the New York Times:
Congressional leaders and administration officials decided not to contest the gun measure propelled by Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, to avoid delaying credit card legislation that the White House wanted as an important symbol of the administration’s push for economic relief for consumers.
SOURCE: http://www.nytimes.com/...
So once again our fearless majority leaders in the Senate and the House have rolled over along with an administration that won an overwhelming victory just six months ago. The poodle Democrats in the House approved the gun measure despite the fact that the House "split its vote to allow Democrats who backed the credit card elements to oppose the elimination of a ban on loaded weapons in national parks and preserves." The Times reports:
The gun amendment was approved 279 to 147, with 174 Republicans and 105 Democrats backing it; 145 Democrats and 2 Republicans opposed it.
Supporters of the legislation say it was needed to end confusion about where gun owners could carry their weapons and noted that guns are allowed on public lands overseen by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. They said it would allow campers and other visitors to the parks to protect themselves better. ...
"The real winners in this amendment are law-abiding Americans who will not be treated as criminals even though they are good people," Representative Rob Bishop, Republican of Utah, said.
Many Democrats expressed outrage at how the gun measure had been enacted.
"I am incredibly disappointed that this well-meaning bill has been hijacked and used as a political tool ramming a provision down the throats of Americans," said Representative Carolyn McCarthy, Democrat of New York... .
(Same Source)
And since the assault weapon ban is no longer in force, doesn't this mean that carrying a loaded assault weapon into Yellowstone is o.k.? Yeah, I guess those squirrels and chipmunks in the outdoors are really a threat to law-abiding citizens. What about the bears, as John Irving might ask, and doesn't Smoky the Bear look threatening? I'm ready to bet that more people will be killed as a result of Senator Coburn's bill allowing loaded firearms in the parks than by its grizzlies, snakes, and buzzards who generally are pretty law-abiding if they are left alone. It's not the animals we have to fear--it's legislators like Senator Coburn and Rob Bishop. Maybe the signs in the parks should read, "Do not approach or feed the Republican politicians, they are dangerous to your health and welfare."
UPDATE & NOTES:
- See how your congressperson voted on this measure here:
http://clerk.house.gov/...
CHECK OUT HOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVE VOTED AND LET HIM/HER KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
- The Washington Independent also reports that:
"White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday that the president will sign the bill, despite his opposition to the gun provision."
http://washingtonindependent.com/...
- From the Washington Post:
House Passes National Parks Gun Bill
The House voted today 279 to 147 in favor of a bill permitting visitors to carry concealed loaded firearms into National Parks and wildlife refuges.
The Senate passed the same measures yesterday after Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) attached the gun rights amendment to the credit card bill. It restores a Bush-era policy rejected by a federal judge in March. The Obama administration declined to file an appeal in the federal case, filed in early January by gun rights advocates.
Under House rules, members voted on the credit card and gun rights bills separately, but they will be joined together as a single bill for the Obama's signature.
SOURCE: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/...
- Oddly enough, I had just finished reading John Irving's wonderful book, "Setting Free the Bears" when I heard this news.
- Digging around on the Internet, I have found what appears to be the language of Sen. Coburn's amendment to the credit card bill. Since this is a matter of public record, I reprint it in full:
S.Amdt. 1067: To protect innocent Americans from violent crime in national parks...
To protect innocent Americans from violent crime in national parks and refuges.
An amendment to H.R. 627: Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009.
Offered: May 12, 2009
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Coburn [R-OK]
Actions: May 12, 2009: Amendment SA 1067 proposed by Senator Coburn to Amendment SA 1058.
May 12, 2009: Amendment SA 1067, pursuant to the order of May 12, 2009, having acheived the required 60 votes in the affirmative, was agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 67 - 29. Record Vote Number: 188.
For more information, see the the official record on THOMAS for S.Amdt. 1067.
Text of amendment
SA 1067. Mr. COBURN proposed an amendment to amendment SA 1058 proposed by Mr. Dodd (for himself and Mr. Shelby) to the bill H.R. 627, to amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM VIOLENT CRIME.
(a) Congressional Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Second Amendment to the Constitution provides that ``the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed''.
(2) Section 2.4(a)(1) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, provides that ``except as otherwise provided in this section and parts 7 (special regulations) and 13 (Alaska regulations), the following are prohibited: (i) Possessing a weapon, trap or net (ii) Carrying a weapon, trap or net (iii) Using a weapon, trap or net''.
(3) Section 27.42 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, provides that, except in special circumstances, citizens of the United States may not ``possess, use, or transport firearms on national wildlife refuges'' of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(4) The regulations described in paragraphs (2) and (3) prevent individuals complying with Federal and State laws from exercising the second amendment rights of the individuals while at units of--
(A) the National Park System; and
(B) the National Wildlife Refuge System.
(5) The existence of different laws relating to the transportation and possession of firearms at different units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System entrapped law-abiding gun owners while at units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
(6) Although the Bush administration issued new regulations relating to the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in units of the National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System that went into effect on January 9, 2009--
(A) on March 19, 2009, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction with respect to the implementation and enforcement of the new regulations; and
(B) the new regulations--
(i) are under review by the administration; and
(ii) may be altered.
(7) Congress needs to weigh in on the new regulations to ensure that unelected bureaucrats and judges cannot again override the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens on 83,600,000 acres of National Park System land and 90,790,000 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(8) The Federal laws should make it clear that the second amendment rights of an individual at a unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System should not be infringed.
(b) Protecting the Right of Individuals to Bear arms in Units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System.--The Secretary of the Interior shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm including an assembled or functional firearm in any unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System if--
(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and
(2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System is located.
(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on May 12, 2009.)
SOURCE: http://www.govtrack.us/...