Congress sneaks guns into Glacier in credit card bill

Tucked inside a bill that tightens regulations on credit cards is a provision that opens the door for gun possession in national parks.

The bill was recently signed into law by President Obama. An amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, entitled "Protecting Americans from Violent Crime," allows anyone to carry any legal firearm in a national park or wildlife refuge as long as it's allowed by state law and the person is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.

In other words, if you were a law abiding citizen, you could conceivably carry a shotgun into Glacier National Park.

Firing it, however, would be another matter. Federal regulations still don't allow for the use of a weapon "that endangers persons or property." Property, in this case, extends to wildlife.

The law is a reversal of Reagan era gun rules that allowed guns in parks, but they had to be broken down in a vehicle and not readily accessible.

The new law was pushed by the National Rifle Association.

"It has been an NRA priority to change the old, outdated rule, and we are pleased that Congress passed this critical legislation," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. "This step brings clarity and uniformity for law-abiding gun owners visiting our national parks and wildlife refuges. NRA will continue to pursue every avenue to defend the American people's right of self-defense."

All three members of Montana's Congressional delegation voted in favor of the law. It does not take effect until February of 2010, though there has been some movement by Coburn to have it take effect sooner than that. Until then, the Reagan era rules remain in effect, noted Glacier spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt said the Park will implement the law change when it takes effect next year.

The law was strongly opposed by the National Parks Conservation Association as well as several groups representing Park rangers and Park Service employees.

"Park wildlife will be put at risk as well as visitors," said Bryan Faehner, associate director of park uses for NPCA.

NPCA also notes that in places like Glacier, bear spray time and time again has proven to be a stronger deterrent to bear attacks than firearms.

"Bear spray is the most effective way to protect yourself and the bear," said Will Hammerquist, Glacier Field representative for NPCA.

Studies of bear incidents in Alaska have shown bear spray to be 95 percent effective with no fatalities of humans when it was used.