from Jobsanger and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Now I am not one of those who think we should outlaw gun ownership. I can read, and I know the Constitution guarantees the right of the people to own and bear arms. But allowing guns in our National Parks is just a very bad idea.

There are too many nuts among us that would think it funny to use protected animals as target practice. They would not only drive the animals away and ruin the park experience for everyone, but they would make a park visit much more dangerous. We'd have to worry about dodging stray bullets because some jerk thought it was cool to take potshots at a park animal.

Cornyn said.

Likewise, Sen. John Cornyn said he signed the letter because he is against the "blanket ban on firearms" that applies to much federal land.

"Gun owners all across America are rightly concerned that the inconsistencies in state and federal firearms policies risk making them into lawbreakers unknowingly for something as simple as crossing a highway or a stream," he said. "I support the constitutional right of American citizens to keep and bear arms, and I think it is appropriate to allow states to make decisions when federal firearms policy is at odds with state policy."

Um, instead of say, making the procedures consistent in parks? Could at least SOME of this have to do with the State of Texas trying to illegally sell off the Christmas Mountains to a guy who wants to have guns on it? Maybe so.

In Texas, the issue of guns in parks has merged into a growing controversy over the Christmas Mountains, a 9,269-acre desert range next to Big Bend National Park.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has pushed to sell the property. He has also resisted transferring the property to the National Park Service if the federal agency insists on enforcing its regular firearms restrictions.

In the face of public outcry, the Christmas Mountain sale was put on hold until February so the National Park Service can make an offer. The Christmas Mountains were donated to Texas in 1991, the Land Office agreeing that the range would either remain in state hands or go only to the park service.

...Patterson, a strong Second Amendment advocate, has said he would not agree to transfer the property to the park service if it continues to enforce a firearms ban. However, the School Land Board must ultimately decide the matter. Patterson, the chairman, is one of three members.