| National Parks Traveler

So all the wilderness and animal lovers actually believe that the concealed permit holders HAVE NOT been camping or hiking along side of them for years. Naive! I can assure you that many more people than you know have carried pistols in their backpacks. Haven't heard of any Dodge City shootouts around the campfires, or piles of dead wolves and grizzlies.

Jan 14th - 10:34am | Linda

This isn't supposed to be about gun people bashing anti-gun people and vice versa. This is about the safety of the parks, the safety of wildlife and the safety of people. I don't oppose owning a concealed permit, but there is a time and a place and the parks are not the place to carry. Follow the law (don't change it) and just enjoy a nice visit to our wonderful parks.

Jan 14th - 10:09am | Anonymous

If you read the Constitution, you'll see that the Second Amendment states "the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." There's been some argument over what these phrases mean, but it really seems to be common sense to me.

Jan 13th - 12:01pm | Anonymous

I agree most people with conceal carry permits are less likely to pull or use their weapon, because they know that pulling that weapon can in most cases cause them to wind up with feloney charges. I as a gun carrying American hope and prey I never have to use my gun on another person but with our world today I will not think twice about using it to protect or defend myself or my family.

Jan 13th - 11:36am | Linda

Oh yes, I'd feel safe camped next to a confused gun-loaded holder. NOT! A loaded gun at your side may makes you feel brave in a national park where wildlife has the right-of-way, especially when you stumble into the path of a bear because you're not paying attention - feeling brave. What about poachers; the people that will have "license" to kill whatever they want?

Jan 12th - 06:43am | Bill R.

Sensible response, however, Yosemite has it's own jail because the crime rate is so high. I'm in favor of packing a gun not for animal, but for human predators. On the back roads of Death Valley and Big Bend, you won't see a ranger for weeks. I might carry a gun and if so it would be loaded. What are you going to do with an empty gun?

Jan 11th - 21:47pm | Barky

Well, I'm not going to get into the gun debate itself, but this part of the quoted portion of the original post intrigued me: Information gathered by State and Federal wildlife management organizations throughout the country overwhelmingly indicates that both people and wildlife are safer when guns are not the first choice when people feel threatened.

Jan 11th - 21:14pm | Merryland

You have the right to protect your homes armed to the teeth. So stay at home where it's safe. Anyone can decide to cross that double yellow line at anytime and take out your entire family packed into the station wagon -- so do we need anti-SUV devices to protect ourselves from a possible lane-changer? The list of silly protections we could carry around with ourselves could be endless.

Jan 11th - 16:22pm | T-Fly

Yes, freak out, gun fans. Use LOTS OF CAPS and EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!! That way EVERYONE will SEE that you are TOTALLY CALM AND REASONABLE!!! And that you should be TRUSTED to CARRY YOUR GUNS around YELLOWSTONE, in case YOGI TRIES ANYTHING!!!!!!!

Jan 11th - 15:37pm | Fred Miller, Mi...

We have the same discussion every time this issue comes up. I will repeat myself only because I'm hoping I will eventually reach someone who has not thought this through to the logical conclusion. I am continually amazed by the naivety of informed, intelligent Americans. Mr. Anonymous "feels safer" knowing that "some fool" is not carrying a gun in a National Park. How does he know this?

Jan 11th - 11:42am | RD

The tax code is confusing to most, should we stop paying taxes? sounds good to me.

Jan 11th - 11:38am | Anonymous

If the New York Times is so smart (and all of us "hick" gun owners are so dumb) then why don't they show a nice uniform website, flyer, or periodical that displays what the differing state laws are for carrying a concealed weapon? The only sites I'm aware of are privately run and have a disclaimer about them not being responsible if their information isn't correct.

Jan 11th - 11:30am | Anonymous

I definitely agree with the Coalition that the current gun regulations should not be changed. I feel safer when I visit a National Park knowing that some fool is not carrying a gun that could endanger my life or anyone else's life. And just as important, wildlife is safer and can do there own thing in their habitat, not the humans habitat. Please do not change this law!!!!!!!

Senators' Letter to Open National Parks to Concealed Weapons

Jan 14th - 18:05pm | Randy

I believe that anyone who has a concealed weapons permit should have the right to legally carry in our national forests. After all, these forests belong to us. Recent events that have occurred in our national forests not only suggest that being armed could have stopped some very hideous crimes, but these crimes demand that since the government can not protect us, we must protect ourselves.

Jan 14th - 14:37pm | Frank Batha

I'm glad to see this issue being discussed, and I believe some modifcations to the current "no firearms in national parks" policy should be made. In my case, I have come across two particular issues. First, as someone who enjoys the backcountry areas of national parks, I would like to be a "legal" carrier of a loaded handgun. My justification being self-defense from dangerous wildlife.

National Park Status Proposed for Oregon, West Virginia State Parks

Jan 14th - 10:46am | Kath

Silver Falls State Park is nice, but it's features aren't unique enough to merit National Park status. Instead, the federal government could takeover the 48 state parks in California that the governor is proposing be closed due to the budget crisis. Those parks include Sutter's Fort and the mission at Lompoc, both historical treasures of national significance.

Jan 14th - 10:19am | Anonymous

Thanks to Oregon Lottery dollars, state park user fees and recreation vehicle license fees, Oregon State Parks are in the black. They are well maintained and staffed. Turning them over to a federal agency that can't afford to maintain its current land holdings would be a mistake and is not in the best interests of Oregonians.

Park Service OKs Monetary Settlement On Great Smoky Mountains National Park's North Shore Road

Jan 14th - 08:43am | Bill Minsh

Thank god this area will be perserved for future generations. This road would have been very foolish.

Do Professional Hockey And Yosemite National Park Belong Together?

Jan 12th - 17:30pm | KSJEn91

First of all, I did read that it is in the rink..thank you for adding your excess "hot air," and secondly you overlooked answering any of the questions I posted in said "hot air" message.

Jan 11th - 17:49pm | Glenn Scofield ...

Ok. Hope this is succinct enough for you. National Parks are not like everywhere else. They are as lands considered too unique for common use, but instead they are mandated by law to be preserved and protected for the enjoyment of future generations.

Jan 11th - 16:14pm | KSJEn91

I do not believe that any of the natural resources should be accommodating human interests, unless humans are preserving the environment and the wildlife. Therefore, no, Hockey and any other human interests should not be allowed in, on, around, or underneath said park.

Jan 10th - 16:03pm | Merryland

Mook -- I tried roller skates at the local roller rink once -- it didn't go over too well. That being said, the two previous Blue Hens before me always wore roller skates and skated around the parking lot before football games.

Jan 10th - 15:49pm | Nick Mojave

I think the difference is clear. Unlike Alcatraz or Charlestown, you're not bringing in more than a couple dozen folks for this visit. The benefits to the team are minimal — will this honestly help them sell hundreds more tickets, and even if it did, would those ticket sales cover the costs of van rental, a couple hours on the road, gas, etc?

Jan 10th - 15:10pm | repanshek

Nick, You're probably right, the physical aspect of the park won't be harmed. But does that make it OK to stage this sort of event in a national park, whether it's Yosemite or Golden Gate NRA? Were the parks designed to be backdrops for promotional events? Should Yosemite Valley be a backdrop for a semi-pro hockey team?

Jan 10th - 12:56pm | Nick Mojave

TZ - You're not answering my question, just talking about a bunch of roadblocks you think should be put up before this happens. How is the park harmed by two or three TV news trucks and two vans full of hockey players showing up at Curry Village for a few hours in the dead of winter?

Jan 10th - 12:08pm | TZ

Will the for-profit hockey team pay royalties for their use (on TV) of the National Park? What rights do they have to re-broadcast images of NPS employees? What other for-profit enterprises can 'use' the National Park in this media-friendly way? Would my high-school hockey team be equally able to commandeer this piece of public property for an evening?

Jan 10th - 08:35am | Mookie

Merryland, I'm guessing the Blue Hen never put skates on during your time in Newark.

Jan 10th - 00:49am | Nick Mojave

What is so egregious about this? A bunch of minor league hockey players skating in circles at Curry Village while the Fresno TV stations do live shots with their satellite trucks. We're not talking about thousands of fans, or even referees keeping things even... just a promotional appearance in the community. How, exactly, is the park harmed?

Jan 9th - 21:36pm | Merryland

Wow, that's a scary picture. Especially since I was the Fightin' Blue Hen mascot in college at the University of Delaware. Freddy looks a bit deranged. I wonder if they gave him a background check before they let him get near the kids!?

Tar Sands Development Could Impact Canyonlands National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Glen Canyon NRA

Jan 12th - 16:13pm | Bob Janiskee

You can't blame Big Oil for casting covetous eyes on the heavy oil out there in the western mountains and prairies. The bitumen in the tar sands and the kerogen in the oil shale contain so much oil that the you think "can't possibly be true" when you first see the statistics.

Jan 11th - 21:20pm | Merryland

The first sign to look for is a bill in Congress to change the name of the park to Canyonlands National Park & Preserve. And they'll try to pass it off as this wonderful thing to expand the park's boundaries and help citizens take full advantage of the many splendors of the Canyonlands landscape...

Jan 11th - 17:54pm | Glenn Scofield ...

I used to wonder what the BLM stood for, but now I know: If there's a buck to be made, rape it, mine it, destroy it and let our kids clean it up when we're gone.

Tiny Lizard That Calls Death Valley National Park Home Could Be Added to ESA List

Jan 11th - 21:23pm | Anonymous

Well, let's hope the Bush administration keeps it's cotton picken hands out of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field of responsibility of enforcing the ESA. Also, keep the Sec. of Interior (and this present administration) from meddling into the affairs of the U.S.

Park History: Wind Cave National Park

Jan 10th - 20:13pm | Barky

I think that tiny little Wind Cave NP is my favorite National Park of the whole system (that I've seen so far, that is). It's not so much the caves as it is, as Paul says above, for the wildlife of the park.

Jan 10th - 08:39am | Mookie

I also think there are elk in Wind Cave NP. When my wife and I were there in 2006, we climbed to the top of a fire tower atop Rankin Ridge. A ranger was in the tower with one of those radio/antenna jobs, trying to figure out where some radio-collared elk were at.

Jan 10th - 08:14am | wonderly00

Just a quick correction: the formation in the cave is called "boxwork" and probably 90 percent of the world's boxwork is found at Wind Cave. But I agree with Barky here, part of the park that many visitors miss, I think, is the wildlife on the surface. For a small park, it's got quite an abundance of easy-to-see wildlife.

Jan 9th - 21:41pm | Merryland

Beautiful cave, beautful landscape... I was disappointed that I didn't feel any wind when touring the cave though. I got the story about the little blowhole and was somewhat let down. But I'll definitely be back again sometime. Last summer it was Jewel Cave's turn -- another park gem (haha heehee).

Jan 9th - 12:45pm | Paul

I lived near Wind Cave National Park for years and have not only been on may cave tours there and camped, but actually worked for the Construction Co. that built most of the current buildings.

Do Cougars Roam Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore?

Jan 9th - 22:25pm | Merryland

I've seen cougar footprints in the Everglades in '86 and the north unit of Teddy Roosevelt NP in '99 -- and that was exciting enough! As an aside -- we had a strange unidentified creature caught on film in Baltimore a few years back -- it was dubbed the "Hyote". Turns out it was a fox that had lost most of its hair. Talk about embarassing...

Lynx, Long Sought in Yellowstone National Park, Is Caught on Film

Jan 9th - 22:02pm | Merryland

Kurt, thanks for the lynx links... :-)

Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them?

Jan 9th - 21:56pm | Merryland

There once was a Jetson named Judy, But modernity made her quite moody. Said she, "In Yosemite, You must use each extremity... Yes, to walk in the park is our duty!" (C) 2008, Jon T. Merryman, All rights reversed.

60 Minutes : The Age of Megafires

Jan 9th - 14:54pm | gruntsgt

I don't know if you know it BUT many of the crew members are laid off each winter. They don't make much money and rank is slow to come. A family member of mine having been with the USFS as a sawyer for about 9 years, he will not jump to a local fire station for more money because he just doesn't feel right being paid for standing around.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Jan 9th - 10:44am | rock climbing tours

As late as the 1870s, Half Dome was declared "perfectly inaccessible",[1] but it may now be ascended in several different ways. Thousands of hikers reach the top each year by following a trail from the valley floor. The trailhead is only 2 mi (3.2 km) from Half Dome itself, but the circuitous route is 8.5 mi (13.7 km) long.

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