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What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?

Aug 4th - 10:27am | Wayne K

Just seems like at every turn there are more and more restrictions, less and less access, more and more fees. Should be the other way around.

Aug 4th - 10:11am | David Powell

The Park Service seems to have taken the airline approach to funding, "nickle and dime" users. Why not just raise entrance fees?? An annual park pass in Canada costs over $100 US and daily passes for just a few days exceed the cost of an annual pass. In addition, many countries charge nonresidents double or more the resident rate.

Aug 4th - 08:35am | Will

My wife and I bought a Senior Pass in May and set out on an 11,000 mile journey to visit the national parks in the west and southwest. The Senior Pass is one of the greatest bargains out there and made it possible for us to visit about 20 parks during our six week trip and stay on budget.

Aug 4th - 07:57am | Anonymous

Denali (and any other parks with a traffic issue or shuttle system already in place) should use the type of busses that Zion has - quiet, clean, great windows for viewing, comfortable seats. The old school busses in Denali are horrible - the noise factor alone is egregious for travelling in a park where peace and quiet are part of the experience!

Any Question About Who's Calling the Shots in Yellowstone National Park?

Aug 4th - 09:56am | Anonymous

I offer my thanks to the park service for using common sense and permitting snow mobiles in Yellowstone. Afterall, the park is there for the recreation of the citizens of the US and it is not a private conservatory for use only by left wing conservation groups and those they deem worthly. We must be good stewards and at the same time make the park accessible to citizens.

Rocky Mountain National Park Officials Select "Lethal Reduction" To Help Reduce Elk Herd--Updated

Aug 4th - 09:26am | Brady Dalfrey

Introducing a scientifically made birth control cocktail could bring more harm than good. The population is out of control. I know first hand as I live very close to Estes Park. Nothing is more enjoyable then taking a nice day trip into Rocky Mountain National Park and being able to view all the wildlife around including elk in town.

Did the NRA Infiltrate Groups Opposed to Overhauling Gun Regulations for the National Parks?

Aug 3rd - 23:09pm | FrankC

Coming back to the article, I have to ask: Mother Jones? Really? Mother Jones is far, far left and was even edited by Michael Moore. This is hardly a neutral source, and I'm skeptical.

Aug 2nd - 23:11pm | Benjamin

Concealed carry license/permit holders have said licenses/permits because they're law abiding, and willing to go through a process to prove it (and capable of safely handling a firearm). The license/permit has to be renewed every few years with another round of background checks.

Aug 2nd - 21:44pm | Anonymous

Watchdog: Show me the stats were CCL holders are "less violent" and more "law-abiding"...than any other group of the similar size...whatever that means. Are stats put out by the NRA!?

Aug 2nd - 18:07pm | Benjamin

Lone Hiker: The Supreme Court decision also reaffirmed that the 2nd amendment is an Individual Right, (the more generalized and far reaching part of the ruling perhaps?) which is a more on the subject than the definition of 'residence' is in this case, in my opinion. Another Voice for Freedom from Violence :

Aug 2nd - 11:12am | Watchdog

Why? We're dealing with licensed CCL holders, a group historically proven to be more law-abiding and less violent than ANY similarly sized group in EVERY state that issues licenses.

Aug 1st - 21:03pm | Anonymous

Much better to have the drug dealers, rapists, and murderers armed in our national parks and the law abiding public helpless to defend ourselves against the threat. The criminals certainly prefer it this way, and since some members of our government do to, they must also be criminals... but I repeat myself.

Aug 1st - 18:24pm | Anonymous

The fact that millions of like minded citizens are armed while so many liberals are not makes me feel much more confident that my personal freedoms will be protected. I bet we would all like to ban something from the parks. I for one would like to ban the socially liberal estrogen rich guys on these posts who are so frightened of handguns.

Aug 1st - 15:58pm | Anonymous

Why is the gun the issue and not drugs, alcohol, poverty, cars, knives, violent crime, etc.? Compromise is attainable if the issue is violence rather than a single method with which to exercise violence.

Aug 1st - 15:29pm | Bob Roberts

Hi Lone Hiker, I believe you just made my point for me. Thanks, Bob

Aug 1st - 14:22pm | Lone Hiker

Indeed the courts have spoken but not to the extent whereby the right of "self protection" extends beyond one's person residence, as stated clearly in the DC decision, and not, as others have tried erroneously to claim on this website, to the extent that your "personal residence" is inclusive or any temporary shelter you erect.

Aug 1st - 13:53pm | Mike Ben

Legal concealed carry permit holders have passed background checks and received training on safe firearm procedures. With concealed carry, criminals, stalkers and thieves do not know who is armed. No one knows. I carry when legal to protect my family. When guns are banned, criminals are aware that their victims are defenseless.

Aug 1st - 11:38am | Bob Roberts

There really is no rational discussing of this subject is there? Both sides are so polarized that any middle ground is unreachable. I love how both sides demonize the other. Well, the Supreme Court made their decision and self protection is a individual right not to be infringed upon by the government. Reasonable regulations are currently ok but will be contested in court.

Aug 1st - 11:02am | Anonymous

Mookie, I agree with you. The NRA will milk the gun issue until your blue in the face...guns, bullets and profit! It's all about power and control. Whatever it takes win over an issue:lie, cheat, distort or give out misinformation, bad information or no information. These are the shrewd tactics of the NRA and these are not nice people were dealing with.

Aug 1st - 10:00am | bearguy

The NRA has lost a lot of credibility over the years advocating gun as the ultimate freedom. Not so NRA. Not so. It continues.

Aug 1st - 07:58am | Mookie

The topic of this post was about the supposed tactics the NRA is using to try to roll back the current NPS guidelines on carrying weapons in NPS units. Do we really need to re-hash all the same arguments again about whether the NPS has a right to have these guidelines in the first place and the dangers of allowing or not allowing guns in the parks?

Aug 1st - 06:26am | Anonymous

Can you provide a single incident where prohibiting the ownership/carry of fire arms produces a more peaceful society? Washington, DC, UK, etc.?

Jul 31st - 23:12pm | MarkK

I'm not sure that I would necessarily agree that a gun has to raise the stakes, but you were describing difficulties with having to know the laws of both states. I was just pointing out that that is already an issue. You would have the same issue if someone were smoking a joint on a trail that crossed between two states.

Jul 31st - 23:08pm | Anonymous

Maybe if those ladies who were killed in Yosemite NAtional Park were allow to have a loaded gun in their posession they would still be alive???? (Ed: The murders referenced here did not take place in Yosemite National Park. The murdered women were Yosemite tourists who were killed near the park.

Jul 31st - 22:57pm | Kurt Repanshek

Mark, Adding a gun to the equation raises the stakes substantially.

Jul 31st - 22:33pm | MarkK

Kurt, I understand the difficulty of a ranger knowing which state he is in (although less so than before GPS was an option) , but isn't this an issue with any law that might be different between the two states? Another Voice,

Jul 31st - 21:47pm | Kurt Repanshek

Mark, re multiple states, I'd offer that it's not as easy as you paint it. While there are reciprocity in many states, not all states offer the same, and so rangers in parks that span two states would not only have to be well-familiar with both states' laws, but also know in which state they're in, and in the backcountry that could at times be problematic.

Jul 31st - 21:13pm | MarkK

Bryan Faehner spins well. His phrasing make the NRA sound so much worse than perhaps :

Jul 31st - 21:08pm | Another Voice f...

The comments to this story make it clear that the NRA is also hard at work responding to blog stories that paint them in a negative light, diverting attention away from their devious schemes to undermine democracy with obfuscating platitudes about constitutional rights and scare tactics about free speech.

Jul 31st - 20:09pm | Kurt Repanshek

Thanks anon, it wasn't intentional. I'll fix it. Still, how many states with concealed carry place time restraints on that privilege?

Jul 31st - 19:58pm | Anonymous

>> Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne proposed to replace that regulation >> with one that would allow park visitors to arm themselves around the clock.

Jul 31st - 19:47pm | Jack

Persons properly licensed to carry a firearm pose exactly zero risk to anyone in national parks, just as they pose(if anything) only a positive force in the world at large. Jack

Jul 31st - 18:38pm | anon

Are NPCA officials also aghast at the idea of constitutional rights that apparently don't exists in parks and conservation areas? Given that the pen is mightier than the sword, shall we abolish the First Amendment in these places as well?

Yellowstone National Park Officials Scale Back Size of "LeHardy Fire"

Aug 2nd - 14:45pm | jsmacdonald

The Billings Gazette is reporting that the fire has tripled in size; however, it's still burning away from the road to the northeast. Everything remains open.

Aug 1st - 14:21pm | jsmacdonald

As of this afternoon, the road has just re-opened - see http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1443/7555/ - though stops aren't allowed through this stretch and there may be delays as helicopters fly over. Of course, call the number above to be sure of the latest information.

Would You Love Zion National Park As Much If It Were Called Mukuntuweap National Park?

Aug 1st - 20:36pm | DCollins

I support the Paiute Name, the Indian Name. Period. It was their land afterall; and landmarks keep the "Zion" name Good Article!

Aug 1st - 13:52pm | Lone Hiker

If GGNRA does become NPNP I'll make it a regular point to go there specifically to lose my lunch. Political statements are a wonderful thing!

Aug 1st - 12:31pm | Random Walker

LOL! Funnier than fiction! What a great read Bob, thanks!

Aug 1st - 11:56am | SaltSage236

Well, apparently NPS and supporters of some NPS units (and maybe some chamber of commerce marketing hacks) do think that names matter. To wit: Congaree Swamp National Monument dropped "swamp" from its name when it became a national park in 2003 for fear no one would want to visit because, they thought, swamps are just so unattractive. How shallow!

Aug 1st - 10:28am | Lone Hiker

Is anyone of small enough mind to visit places based solely on their names? Do people regularly avoid places with names they, for whatever reason, cannot pronounce?

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Expansion of Visitor Center at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Aug 1st - 14:00pm | Sydney Bowen

I agree that the expansion of the tourist center would ruin the battlefield! In fact, I think they ought to tear down the present center and move it somewhere off of the battlefield. I have been there several times in my quest for knowledge of the Battle of The Little Bighorn. Of course, I am a history buff! Kingman, AZ

Aug 1st - 12:58pm | Anonymous

Not only is it wrong to intrude further in to this historic site, they should consider removing the existing visitor's center and relocating it outside the field of view of the battlefield as proposed by Mr. Greene. For once, can't our government stop being so self-serving and do the right thing?

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

Jul 31st - 22:54pm | Jerry

Well said, Anonymous. And I'm all for your excitement of being able to see what before wasnt accessable to you and others. I have a Segway with knobby tires and is built for off road use. Its quiet, eco-friendly, and not much wider than your backpacker (with his candy bars). Although I'm healthy, I wonder whos business is it that one should get excercise while enjoying nature?

Would a Change in Gun Laws Be a Threat to National Park Bears?

Jul 31st - 22:47pm | Kirby Adams

Animals can and do injury and kill people. Humans can and do injury and kill other humans. Very true. No one has the right to deny citizens of their right to defend themselves, be it from beast or man.

Jul 31st - 18:40pm | Bill

This is an issue of personal freedom and self defense. We all have a natural right to self defense. That right was not given by the constitution, instead it is protected by the constitution. No one has the right to deny citizens of their right to defend themselves, be it from beast or man.

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Jul 31st - 20:34pm | Frank N

Actually thousands of people hike in Yellowstone every year without carrying bear spray (many families with young children), while thousands of others that hike with it never use it. I started carrying it several years ago at the insistence of my kids. I never felt the need for it when I didn't have it, and never have since I've been carrying it.

Jul 31st - 18:08pm | Elijah - Alaska

Why do the Park Rangers need to carry handguns? They don't have a need too if they're not as effective on bears and the Rangers (assuming that they are people too) have a higher chance of hurting themselves. Furthermore, as "Frank N" points out

NPS Director Bomar Extends Freeze on Fee Increases at National Parks

Jul 31st - 16:36pm | Anonymous

I have said this before: We the taxpayers have been shafted and burden with the sickening Bush-Iraq war, along with a deliberate wrecked economy (to prevent legitimate entitlements for poor and middle class), with the high cost of living, along with ridiculous huge profiteering by the oil companies (granted by Bush & Cheney Administration)...and now with the housing crises to boot.

Jul 31st - 12:20pm | SaltSage236

I think it's absurd and offensive to compare the national park experience with that of a $40-per-head amusement park. Amusement parks exist for entertainment. National parks exist to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of our national and natural heritage and identity -- an absolute necessity for informed citizenship.

"LeHardy Fire" in Yellowstone National Park Explodes to 600 Acres

Jul 31st - 09:13am | jsmacdonald

If people want to keep up with this and other fires InciWeb is an excellent site. Updated information on this fire can be found at http://inciweb.org/incident/1443/.

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