Federal parks laws change on firearms

Jerry Patterson, commissioner of the Texas General Land Office and author of the Texas Concealed Handguns Law when he served in the state Senate, praised proposed rules changes by Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne that would respect state laws regarding the carrying of concealed firearms in federal parks.

The rules are now subject to public comment before adoption.

"Texans who can lawfully carry a firearm in state parks can now carry in federal parks, including Big Bend National Park," Patterson said.

Patterson said the ban on carrying concealed firearms in national parks was unconstitutional and never should have been inflicted on Americans these past 25 years.

"Federal bureaucrats simply shouldn't be allowed to override the Constitution with administrative rules," he said.

"The anti Bill of Rights crowd will say this is unnecessary and dangerous. Americans who live in concealed carry states have heard this before.

"They said 'blood would run in the streets,' but that didn't happen and it won't happen in national parks," Patterson said. "The Bill of Rights enumerates a right to 'keep and bear arms.' I should not be required to forgo my Second Amendment, or for that matter my First, Fourth or Fifth Amendment rights just because I happen to be in a park," the land commissioner said.

Patterson urges Texans who care about gun rights to comment on the proposed federal rules change, available in the Federal Register and on www.doi.gov.

Once the public comment period has closed, all comments received will be evaluated and incorporated into the decision making process on a final rule. The number and substance of the comments received will determine the timeline for the final decision.