As of today, many restrictions are lifted on yoiur right to bring your loaded, concealed guns into national parks. The NRA has been pushing hard for this legislation, "Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges Act," lifting a long-standing ban.

The actual right will still be limited. For one thing, the parks are still subject to any gun regulations of the states and counties in which they sit (a possible concern in those parks that straddle state lines). And guns will not be permitted in park offices and visitor centers, which are federal buildings. But they will be permitted in private concessions--lodges, restaurants--in accordance with the laws of the state.

We spoke with Karen Beck-Herzog, Public Affairs Officer for Shenandoah National Park. She reminds us that it will continue to be illegal to discharge the firearm. Hunting is still banned. And there will be signage at those buildings which you may not enter with your weapon.

Advocates for gun control fear increased violence. Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, has been quoted as saying, "It really is sad that we've become such a paranoid society that people want to take guns pretty much everywhere — including national parks .... When you are at a campfire and people are getting loud and boisterous next to you, you used to have to worry about them quieting down. Now you have to worry about when they will start shooting."

(Dave Sagarin, February 22, 2010)