Bart all for guns in U.S. national parks

NEWS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN BART STUPAK 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

************************* Stupak votes to allow Amercians to exercise Second Amendment Rights in national parks

WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) voted for an amendment Wednesday allowing law-abiding Americans to carry firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges in compliance with the law of the state in which the park or refuge is located.

By a vote of 249 to 147 the U.S. House of Representatives approved the amendment, which was added to the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights by the U.S. Senate.

The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.

“Today 40 states - including Michigan - allow residents to carry firearms for self-defense,” Stupak said. “The regulations governing firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges are out of sync with state firearms laws and are inconsistent with regulations for other federal lands. This amendment corrects this discrepancy and affirms Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”

Currently, individuals are prohibited from possessing, carrying or transporting loaded or uncased firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges.

In 1983, when the current restriction was established by the Reagan administration, only six states allowed residents to carry firearms for self-defense.

Today 40 states allow it.

Stupak noted that citizens are already allowed to carry firearms on federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, and that in Michigan it is already legal to carry firearms in state parks, forests and game areas.

Michigan’s First Congressional District contains three National Parks: Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The district also contains four National Wildlife Refuges: Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge, Huron National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

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