cifa22
New member
imported post
Hi all.....new to the forum, but I must confess that I've been a long time lurker (is that a word?) on the forum as well as an avid open and concealed carrier over the years.
I really enjoy the articulate clarity of so many posters here. Thank you for all your research and dedication to supporting our constitution!
So....what drove me to finally post?? I just recently renewed my National Park Permit ($80) and had an interesting conversation with the gal behind the counter at the Enumclaw Forest Ranger Station on Hwy 410.
I left my sidearm in my vehicle as it was clearly posted that firearms were not permitted inside so I secured my sidearm in my vehicle and went inside. In the course of renewing my permit I politely asked for some clarity on carrying a firearm into any of the National Parks in Washington State. I was promptly informed that it was not allowed. Playing somewhat dumb...(not hard to do
) I then stated that I'd "heard something on the news" about a recent change that permitted open and concealed carry in the Olympic National Park." She stated that it had been overturned and was illegal. Guns were not allowed in any state park.
I further persisted and asked about Mount Rainier. She added that Mount Rainier had banned firearms entirely. (not sure what she meant by that other than they allowed them at some point??)
She then stated that her superior had just been in last week and handed out "some paper about it" and that she couldn't find it. It didn't really matter, what was important to her was that firearms were not allowed in any national park and that the legislation that proposed to allow it had been suspended for a year for additional review.
I told her that I was now really confused because on the web site for Mount Rainier: http://www.nps.gov/mora/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm it clearly states a different position than she was taking. In fact it stated that the ruling had taken effect on 2/22/2010. She stammered a bit and kept referring to some paper that her superior had given them and that in the end it didn't matter. Guns were illegal in the park and I was misinformed.
I politely informed her that to the best of my knowledge her information was incorrect and that she should contact her boss for clarity so as to not mis-inform patrons to the park. I also mentioned that she should look at the web site herself to have the most up to date information. She didn't say whether she would or not, just that she didn't like guns, as a single mother she felt she had no need of them and that the park was no place for people to carry weapons.
I stated my reasons for carrying and the fact that I had been robbed twice at gunpoint over the past 30 years of my adult life and that on one occasion had been beaten pretty badly that put me in the hospital for a period of time. (pre carry days)
When I asked her what the Park's plans were to keep "bad guys" from showing up with guns she stammered again but no real answer. When I persisted as to what they were doing to protect patrons from the criminal element in the park, she said they were understaffed and would respond to any incident as quickly as they could. I started to ask her why she felt it wasn't a good idea to for citizens to defend themselves given that we were a "stand your ground" state she again more emphatically proclaimed her dislike of guns.
More was said back and forth that only confirmed her ignorance of the law, that she was supposed to be able to interpret and uphold (kinda scary), and her absolute dislike of an armed citizenry.
My parting comment was accompanied by a smile and then a frown of concern that she might want to get current with the law, particularly as she was being paid to know it and enforce it.
The conversation was never at any point in any way rude or overly vigorous, just a casual conversation that gave her a lot to think about (I hope) and research if she takes her job seriously. I am contemplating contacting the forest service in Olympia to "take this up a notch" to ensure proper education for the park staff.
Any thoughts???
Hi all.....new to the forum, but I must confess that I've been a long time lurker (is that a word?) on the forum as well as an avid open and concealed carrier over the years.
I really enjoy the articulate clarity of so many posters here. Thank you for all your research and dedication to supporting our constitution!
So....what drove me to finally post?? I just recently renewed my National Park Permit ($80) and had an interesting conversation with the gal behind the counter at the Enumclaw Forest Ranger Station on Hwy 410.
I left my sidearm in my vehicle as it was clearly posted that firearms were not permitted inside so I secured my sidearm in my vehicle and went inside. In the course of renewing my permit I politely asked for some clarity on carrying a firearm into any of the National Parks in Washington State. I was promptly informed that it was not allowed. Playing somewhat dumb...(not hard to do
) I then stated that I'd "heard something on the news" about a recent change that permitted open and concealed carry in the Olympic National Park." She stated that it had been overturned and was illegal. Guns were not allowed in any state park.I further persisted and asked about Mount Rainier. She added that Mount Rainier had banned firearms entirely. (not sure what she meant by that other than they allowed them at some point??)
She then stated that her superior had just been in last week and handed out "some paper about it" and that she couldn't find it. It didn't really matter, what was important to her was that firearms were not allowed in any national park and that the legislation that proposed to allow it had been suspended for a year for additional review.
I told her that I was now really confused because on the web site for Mount Rainier: http://www.nps.gov/mora/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm it clearly states a different position than she was taking. In fact it stated that the ruling had taken effect on 2/22/2010. She stammered a bit and kept referring to some paper that her superior had given them and that in the end it didn't matter. Guns were illegal in the park and I was misinformed.
I politely informed her that to the best of my knowledge her information was incorrect and that she should contact her boss for clarity so as to not mis-inform patrons to the park. I also mentioned that she should look at the web site herself to have the most up to date information. She didn't say whether she would or not, just that she didn't like guns, as a single mother she felt she had no need of them and that the park was no place for people to carry weapons.
I stated my reasons for carrying and the fact that I had been robbed twice at gunpoint over the past 30 years of my adult life and that on one occasion had been beaten pretty badly that put me in the hospital for a period of time. (pre carry days)
When I asked her what the Park's plans were to keep "bad guys" from showing up with guns she stammered again but no real answer. When I persisted as to what they were doing to protect patrons from the criminal element in the park, she said they were understaffed and would respond to any incident as quickly as they could. I started to ask her why she felt it wasn't a good idea to for citizens to defend themselves given that we were a "stand your ground" state she again more emphatically proclaimed her dislike of guns.
More was said back and forth that only confirmed her ignorance of the law, that she was supposed to be able to interpret and uphold (kinda scary), and her absolute dislike of an armed citizenry.
My parting comment was accompanied by a smile and then a frown of concern that she might want to get current with the law, particularly as she was being paid to know it and enforce it.
The conversation was never at any point in any way rude or overly vigorous, just a casual conversation that gave her a lot to think about (I hope) and research if she takes her job seriously. I am contemplating contacting the forest service in Olympia to "take this up a notch" to ensure proper education for the park staff.
Any thoughts???
