Credit Card Bill Allows Guns in National Parks
Tucked away in the “Miscellaneous Provision” section at the end of the credit card reform bill – the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 – just passed by the U.S. Congress, is a provision allowing people to carry loaded firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges.
Introduced as an amendment to the credit card reform bill by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), the provision allows owners of licensed firearms to bring them into national parks and wildlife refuges as long as they are allowed to do so by state law.
Coburn’s amendment is intended to prevent the implementation of a March 19, 2009 preliminary federal injunction blocking a George W. Bush administration regulation that allowed concealed weapons to be carried in national parks and wildlife refuges, subject to state law. The regulation is currently under review by the Obama administration.
“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,” states Sen. Coburn’s amendment.
The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009, along with Sen. Coburn’s “Protecting Americans from Violent Crimes” amendment, pass by votes of 279-147 in the House and 90-5 in the Senate.
Also See:
Concealed Guns to be Allowed in National Parks (2008)
Supreme Court Confirms Individual Gun Rights
D.C. v. Heller Leaves Big Second Amendment Question
Comments
Good. I mean, I don’t really defend the method used to get it passed (tacking it on to a credit card bill the dems wanted passed), but I’m glad this law will be there.
If one out of every 20 people you came across was legally packing, this country would have a much lower rate of violent crime.
Senator Coburn has tried every means possible to sneak this bill into law, including blocking hundreds of bills in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The press truly let the public down in not focusing on this sleazy tactic. Something like 7 former National Park Directors-both R and D-oppose this legislation.This is how a corrupt DC really works.
A Federal judge had issued an injunction against a Federal Regulation which allowed concealed carry in National Parks. This was done because there was no “environmental study” to determine the impact that allowing concealed weapons would have. Anybody with common sense knows that the environmental impact would be ZERO, and the court knew that too.
So don’t act like this is some sleazy tactic by the gun lobby. It is only being used because an anti-gun judge used a sleazy tactic to stop it a few months ago.
Brian: Problem is, it’s exactly the same tactic that could just as easily be used to include, say, an amendment requiring national firearms registration into a non-related bill.
Robert
It’s a ridiculous juxtaposition of items in one bill. But I am highly in favor of both. The restrictions on predatory credit card practices was long overdue. See the documentary “Maxxed Out.”
And allowing people who have been through the stringent concealed carry permit process to carry weapons is simply logical. Stats bear out that these folks are responsible people who almost never use their firearms, let alone inappropriately. As many women have concealed carry permits, this allows them a greater feeling of security when camping and hiking. That’s what it boils down to – law abiding citizens who may or may not already be carrying a gun throughout their daily lives also being able to bring it with them into a park.
Wow.. lol.. the government action here is laughable. Not that I disagree with the gun thing.. but.. putting it with a Credit Card bill? Really? I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.