你也許有看到新聞，也許沒注意。在 National Rifle Association (NRA) 的壓力下，內政部 (Department of Interior) 計畫在布希政府最後幾個月的任期內通過行政命令，開放對於國家公園的槍枝管制。在改變規定之前，合法擁有槍枝的美國公民可以帶槍進國家公園，但是槍不能上膛，而且必須鎖在車子的行李箱裏，不能隨身攜帶。新的規定大大放寬了這項管制，合法擁有槍枝的公民可以隨身攜帶子彈上了膛的槍在國家公園裏活動，能合法在任何時間地點使用槍來「自衛」。
新的規定受到內政部底下直接負責國家公園的 National Park Service 的反對，此外包括了Park Ranger和National Parks Conservation Association的機構也反對開放槍枝。也許是因為反對聲浪太大，DOI 不敢硬幹，現在開放讓社會大眾提供意見，到 08/08/2008 截止。
如果你有同樣的看法，請利用 National Parks Conservation Association 的這個網頁：http://ga1.org/campaign/Guns_Comments 來表達你的意見。你不必非得是美國公民，但是需要有一個美國的地址。在網頁的右邊填入你的Email，稱謂，姓名，地址之後按下 Send This Message ，NPCA就會把一份格式化的Email（如同網頁下方的範本）送給 Division of Policy & Directives Mgt. US Fish & Wildlife Service，並cc:給你所在州的參眾議員。
Thanks for sharing the information. I'm very happy to know that the national parks could be left to those who really treasure the beauty of nature. I really hate to see it becoming a stage for those people promoting their own political agenda.
Suzy (Mar 24, 09)
think you may be interested in this one--
---------------- Dear Suzy,
We have really big news! Late last week, a judge issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Interior's (DOI) regulation allowing loaded, concealed firearms in parks.
Among other things, the court recognized that the Bush Administration "ignored substantial information in the administrative record concerning environmental impacts," and went on to say that the process was "astoundingly flawed." Consistent with concerns raised by NPCA and several park ranger organizations, the judge ruled that the DOI's process ignored the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a law which requires the government to assess whether or not a proposed policy will have an adverse impact on the environment, including park wildlife, before finalizing it--which the Administration had not done.
Thousands of you wrote comments and sent letters to newspaper editors citing the Administration's blatant disregard of the law, and with your help, we were able to halt implementation of this flawed regulation.
Unsurprisingly, the National Rifle Association has filed an appeal, but NPCA will continue to advocate in the courts that the DOI should follow environmental laws before proposing changes to any policies that affect our national parks.
Thank you for all you do to protect our national parks.
旅人行腳