Despite lively discussions about the possibility of allowing limited hunting in some Australian national parks, most campers know the rules about bringing firearms into our national parks. Don’t!
It seems however the situation in the US is not quite as clear. A federal law came into effect in 2010 which allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to bring them into national parks.
However, each state has different regulations and it’s proved difficult for American campers to keep abreast of it all. The iconic Yellowstone national park, for example, encompasses parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho … all of which have different regulations relating to guns.
Sometimes, it’s even tricky within a state. In Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal has just signed into law a piece of legislation that has been labelled the “guns everywhere” bill by critics.
The Safe Carry Protection Act of 2014 allows Georgia residents with concealed carry permits to bring guns into some churches, into bars, school zones, and even certain areas inside airports … but guns are still prohibited at national parks which are on federal property. A county, city or state park may allow guns … but only if they are not situated on leased federal land.
Georgian park rangers have already had to ask some confused campers carrying firearms to leave. Although there are ‘no firearms’ rules posted at campsites and on the handouts campers get when they drive into a park, the print is tiny and bigger ones are being made up to prevent problems.
Presumably, the reason people would wish to bring people a gun into a national park in the first place would be for self protection, but there are obvious concerns.
“I worry about people drinking and you know getting a little crazy,” camper Kathy Valenziano told a local TV station in Georgia.”There are lots of kids here.”
Would you feel safer, or less safe, if you were able to take guns into national parks with you? Comment below.
The problem with carrying a gun is that once you feel that you need it, you must be prepared to use it. In Australia, if you use a gun and kill someone, who probably needs it, you are guilty of murder.