I take a gun to Yellowstone--what happens to me?

Here is my sure to be unpopular take on it...

Either go unarmed, or do not go.

The law is there. I do not support violating it. If you disagree with the law, seek to have it removed through appropriate channels.

There are millions of acres of wilderness to enjoy where you may go leagally armed. You could not possibly cover it all in one life time. If it is that important to you, choose a trip elsewhere.

Getting caught will instantly make you a hit with HCI and the like. You will lose your freedom. You will lose your right to keep and bare arms. You will be out tens of thousands of dollars.

Erik
 
An interesting aside about Yellowstone rangers:

Two heavily armed rangers visited my camp there several years ago. They were tracking paochers in the area and were asking if any suspicious people were about. My camping partner, a former marine, spotted a marine tatoo on one of the guys. They started yacking about the goo old days. The rangers sat down and loosened up. It turns out the rangers had been observing us for hours, finally determining we were not who they wanted. They stated that there were several two man teams covering various areas through out the park. Apparently a "normal" ranger had been threatened at gunpoint.

Oh, I mentioned heavily armed. They both had Berrettas, one had a Colt carbine, the other a very tricked out looking Remington heavy barreled rifle. Imagine, if you will, a tac team with OD bottoms and near-black dark green tops...

[This message has been edited by Erik (edited April 28, 2000).]
 
Dennis,
You do not believe you will be assassinated over firearms access to our national park system, do you? :D

[This message has been edited by Erik (edited April 28, 2000).]
 
You know, that might not be too far off, in the near future...

Last week, we didn't think it possible for JBT's to crash into an innocent home either. And now...?
 
Its amazing.

When I was a young squirt in the 60s and Mom, dad, sis and I went camping in the west every summer, (The park service, national forests and state park services in the western states) recommended that people camping (Not just people hiking in the remote areas but EVERY GROUP) had the following items
1. bucket
2. ax (double bladed preferred)
3. shovel
4. rope
5. RIFLE 30-30 or larger.

to go camping in Canada during the same time period the recommended
1. bucket
2. ax (double bladed preferred)
3. shovel
4. rope
5. RIFLE 30-30 or larger.
(This last little item was required for a stay in most of their camp areas as they were very remote with very few visitors.

Once we stayed at a camp sight in Wyoming at a state park. Seems there was a motorcycle gang causing trouble in the area and a state park ranger was asking people who were not armed to move to another camp sight where rangers were present 24 hours. We got to stay.

I have seen what a bear can do "especially to tent camp sights" one night we slept through a bear raid in our campground. (having driven all day and sleeping in a trailer with insulated walls we never heard a thing) The people hide up trees, but their stuff was trashed.

Trouble with bears $hit (had a few run-ins with bears) but we had more trouble with cats. People seem to forget about mountain lions and bob cats.
They tend to be very anti social if you get my drift.

My how things have changed.

[This message has been edited by Alan B (edited April 28, 2000).]
 
If you read either version of Elmer Keith's autobiography (Either KEITH, which he hated, or HELL! I WAS THERE, I have both) He used to hunt elk on the fringes of Yellowstone Park. Seems as if he wounded a large bull (with the puny 30-06 and 220 gr. bullets) so he had to sneak into the park to try to get the animal to leave the park. He stated that at the time, the park was not guarded by rangers, but by the army. This was, if I remember correctly, in the early 1920's, so hunting in the park, or even having firearms in the park has been in effect for some time. Maybe even since it's inception.
Just a thought on the matter.
Paul B.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Erik:
Here is my sure to be unpopular take on it...

Either go unarmed, or do not go.

The law is there. I do not support violating it. If you disagree with the law, seek to have it removed through appropriate channels.
Erik[/quote]

Erik, 10 years ago in Massachusetts, you had to attempt to evacuate your house at all cost before you legally could shoot a home invader, even if that invader had a weapon of his own.

Yes, since then the law has changed. But so much for the people who tried to protect themselves inside of their house, back in the 'good old days'.

Do i think i'll be executed for carrying a weapon into a National Park? If the rangers see me with it, who knows.

Remember, a New York Judge recently instructed a jury that, "a person who acts in self-defence has committed no crime." (Diallo)

~USP

[This message has been edited by USP45 (edited April 30, 2000).]
 
USP,
There is a difference between your home, which you own, and a park, which you are voluntarily entering.

The courts, I pretty sure, will convict you for shooting bear in Yellowstone regardless of cause. In this day and age, I would wager all the more so if you attempt to justify it via the Diallo case. ;)
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Erik:
The courts, I pretty sure, will convict you for shooting bear in Yellowstone regardless of cause. In this day and age, I would wager all the more so if you attempt to justify it via the Diallo case. ;)[/quote]

(Re: the Diallo Case) I agree, i was making a feeble attempt to use sarcasm there for a moment.

Definitly a difference between home and the range, but i suppose i'd rather take my chances with the Park Rangers and the court system, rather than Yogi. :(

~USP
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top