Your Right To Carry A Gun For Self-Protection In A National Park

“Make-Or-Break” Day On Your Right To Carry A Gun For Self-Protection In A National Park
— Tell your Senators to vote against “Cloture” on the Parks Bill
Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
(703)321-8585
Tuesday, April 8, 2008

What happens tomorrow — Wednesday, April 9, 2008 — will probably determine whether or not you will be able to carry a gun in a national park.

The first key vote will be a vote to cut off debate on the motion to take up the “alternate” version of the “parks bill.” That bill is S. 2739.

Why, you might ask, is such an arcane procedural vote so important?

To answer that question, it is necessary to look at a little history: Earlier this year, the first “parks” bill came onto the Senate calendar. It was not a good bill: In terms of private property rights, it was one of the biggest federal land grabs in American history. In addition, it would grant another liberal anti-gun congressman to the Mariana Islands.

But Senator Tom Coburn was able to use the Senate rules to secure a right to offer his gun amendment to that first bill — an amendment which would affirm your right to carry a firearm for self-defense in most national parks.

The Senate Democratic leadership was terrified. If presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were required to cast an anti-gun vote on the eve of the presidential election, it could arguably cost Democrat states like Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Arkansas, and New Hampshire in November.

So Democratic leader Harry Reid (D-NV) came up with a plan: He would kill the bill on which Coburn had the right to offer his gun amendment. Instead, he would bring up a similar bill — but one on which Coburn had not secured a parliamentary right to offer the gun amendment. Once the new “alternate” gun bill was pending, Reid would add so many amendments that the Coburn gun amendment could not be offered.

So, to recapitulate: The “alternate” parks bill — S. 2739 — exists for one reason and one reason only: to block consideration of a Coburn amendment to allow you to use a gun to defend yourself in a national park.

ACTION: Tell your Senator to vote against cloture on the motion to proceed to the parks bill. You can use the pre-written message below and send it as an e-mail by visiting the GOA Legislative Action Center (where phone and fax numbers are also available).
—– Pre-written letter —–

Dear Senator:

What happens on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 will probably determine whether or not Americans will be able to carry a gun in a national park.

The key vote will be a vote to cut off debate on the motion to take up the “alternate” version of the “parks bill.” That bill is S. 2739.

This “alternate” parks bill exists for one reason and one reason only: to block consideration of a Coburn amendment to allow Americans to use a gun to defend themselves in many national parks. Coburn had secured the right to offer this amendment to the original bill, S. 2483.

The procedure which is being used to shut out gun owners is not only unfair; it is sneaky and underhanded.

Please do not let it succeed.

Gun Owners of America has told me it will rate this vote as a gun vote.

Sincerely,
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