National Parks & NY Lawsuit

[AlertsList at FirearmsCoalition.org (Firearms Coalition)]

*1. Court Shoots Down Bloomberg!
2. National Parks Ending Gun Ban?
3. The National Anthem*

*Bloomberg and NY
*

            A 3 judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second 
Circuit has dismissed a lawsuit by the city of New York attempting to 
hold firearms manufacturers responsible for the costs of "gun crime" in 
the city.  The court ruled that the suit should have been dismissed 
under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act passed by the 
congress in 2005.  The 2-1 decision affirmed the constitutionality of 
that law and criticized Federal Judge Jack Weinstein for failing to 
abide by the Lawful Commerce Act when it first passed.
           We can doubtless expect Mayor Bloomberg to try to find some 
other way to blame gunowners, dealers, and manufacturers for New York's 
crime problems.


*Parks*

**

The Department of the Interior has released its long awaited regulatory 
reform proposals for National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges.  The 
proposed regulations will be open for public comment for the next 60 
days.  It is critical that gunowners let their voices be heard on this 
regulation change.

As I had expected, the proposed regulations are worded to be as 
restrictive as possible while still trying to answer the primary 
complaint.  Specifically, the proposed change limits firearms that "may" 
be carried, to those lawfully carried concealed under state law.  Lawful 
open carry is denied.  The proposal also specifically exempts buildings 
and facilities from lawful carry and it predicates its rules upon those 
of similar state lands rather than general state law.  So in states like 
Virginia, where gunowners are fighting to regain their rights in state 
parks, the fight would automatically extend into National Parks.  If a 
state wants to prohibit guns in a National Park, they should have to 
pass a law to do it.

Here is the actual text of the proposal for National Parks:

*? 2.4 Weapons, traps and nets.*

* * * * * (Added to the end of a complex litany of restrictions and 
exceptions)

(h) A person may possess, carry, and transport concealed, loaded, and 
operable firearms within a national park area in the same manner, and to 
the same extent, that a person may lawfully possess, carry, and 
transport concealed, loaded and operable firearms in any state park, or 
any similar unit of state land, in the state in which the federal park, 
or that portion thereof, is located, provided that such possession, 
carrying and transporting otherwise complies with applicable federal and 
state law.

 The proposed reg change for National Wildlife Refuges is virtually 
identical except for the types of state lands that it cites as comparable.

It is obvious that the bureaucrats who wrote these proposed regulations 
simply don't understand the fundamental principles involved.  It is 
ridiculous that the Department of the Interior would promulgate these 
convoluted half-measures when a simple statement adopting the laws of 
the host state regarding the possession and carry of firearms would 
solve the problem.  I think the DOI is concerned about not being able to 
prosecute someone they catch sneaking through the woods with a scoped 
30-06 as a poacher.  By limiting the exemption to "concealed" weapons, 
they think they are bypassing that problem and they are ignoring the 
other problems such a limitation creates.

We have not yet formulated our official response as there are many 
factors to be considered and we would like to coordinate our efforts 
with other rights organizations.  We will post our response as soon as 
we can get it put together.

In the mean time, here is the official information about posting comments:

 You may submit comments, identified by the number 1024-AD70 by any of 
the following methods:

Electronically via the Federal rulemaking portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Mail:
    Public Comments Processing, Attn: 1024-AD70; Division of Policy and 
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax 
Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203

      Hand-deliver: 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203

*Public Availability of Comments*

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware 
that your entire comment -- including your personal identifying 
information -- may be made publicly available at any time.

While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

*FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: *Mark Lawyer, (202) 208-3181,  
Mark_Lawyer@ios.doi.gov.

I'll send out an Alert in a day or two with sample comment language. 


National Anthem
    I'm not big on those so-called "viral videos" that race around the 
world in unwanted e-mails, but you might enjoy this beautiful rendition 
of the Star Spangled Banner sung by a group of young ladies in Texas.  
The group is called The Cactus Cuties and includes:
Madeline Powell -- Age 8
Blaire Elbert -      Age 10
Tatum Lowe -    Age 11
Andi Kitten --      Age 11
Baylee Barrett -- Age 13
They are directed by a woman named Cami Caldwell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284&feature=related

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