When heading out to Yellowstone or some other awesome national park, Americans can now add something to their checklist. You may have your bug spray, hiking shoes and enough water, but do you have your rifle?
According to a new federal law, visitors of national parks can now carry guns, so long as they comply with the park’s state laws regarding firearms. The law is a welcome change for gun advocates, who have noted that firearms have long been allowed in national forests and federal lands — places that often border national parks.
But some argue that the law is unnecessary, considering it is illegal to fire a weapon or kill an animal on national park grounds. They also fear for the safety of the rangers, who are unarmed. According to the LA Times:
Opponents say the law ratchets up the potential for violence in parks, where for seven consecutive years rangers have been the most assaulted federal law enforcement officers, according to data compiled by the park service.
Officials are concerned over the confusion of the law. Since many national parks extend over a variety of states (like the Appalachian Trail, for example, which covers 14 states), each with their own arms laws, it will be difficult to enforce.
The law reverses a 94 year old National Park Service policy that stated visitors could transport disassembled and unloaded weapons in the trunks of their car.
[Via: LA Times]
Follow me on Twitter @sarahesterman
