National Parks Conservation Association Disappointed by Passage of Legislation Permitting Guns in Federal Parks

We are disappointed in the members of the House and Senate who
allowed this amendment to pass, as well as in President Obama. By not
taking a stand to prevent this change, they have sacrificed public
safety and national park resources in favor of the political agenda of
the National Rifle Association. This amendment had no hearing or review,
and will increase the risk of poaching, vandalism of historic park
treasures, and threats to park visitors and staff.

These are special protected places, where millions of American
families and international visitors can view magnificent animals and
majestic landscapes and experience our nation’s history, including
sites where lives were lost to preserve our American ideals.

The Reagan Administration’s regulation requiring that guns carried
into these iconic places be unloaded and put away is a time-tested,
limited and reasonable restriction to carry out an important and
legitimate goal of protecting and respecting our national parks,
monuments and battlefields. It is a tremendously sad day that it has
been thrown out by political leaders from whom we expect more.