Senate Democrats Capitulate Again: Pass Law Allowing Guns in National Parks
The Democratic-controlled Congress is moving to restore a Bush administration policy that allowed loaded guns in national parks.The Senate voted Tuesday to allow guns in national parks and wildlife refuges, and the House could follow suit as soon as Wednesday.
The measure is included in a popular bill imposing new restrictions on credit card companies. Democratic leaders have said they hope to send a final version to the White House for the president's signature by week's end.
The Senate vote is a stark reversal from what many gun-control advocates expected when a federal judge blocked the Bush policy in March. The decision reinstated restrictions that had been in place since the Reagan administration. The rules severely restrict guns in the national parks, generally requiring them to be locked or stored.
The Obama administration accepted the March 19 ruling, saying that the Interior Department would review the policy over the next several months.
That timetable changed quickly last week after Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn inserted an amendment to the credit card bill that would allow concealed, loaded guns in parks and refuges.
To the surprise of many, the amendment easily passed, winning support from 67 senators _ including 27 Democrats. Among those who voted "yes" was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who had blocked Coburn's amendment from coming to the Senate floor for more than a year. Seven other Western Democrats voted with Reid to support the Republican senator's amendment, which allows a range of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges as long as they are allowed by federal, state and local law.
Hurray! Democrats with huge majorities in Congress are still doing the Republicans bidding. I've said it before and I'll say it again- they are a bunch of spineless cowards.


I don't get it. Whats the connection between credit cards and guns?
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Any endangered species taking refuge in our national parks should now lay low.
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Yeah,I heard about this.I'm sure the park rangers are thrilled about this sop to the NRA. If it becomes law,I'll avoid Nat.parks as I would any other 'bad place for dave to visit'. Like a back road in Alabama on a dark night.Which is too bad,because like Matt,I love our wilderness areas.
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