Credit Cards and Guns

Yesterday I saw where Congress passed a bill regarding credit card consumer protection. In the middle of the bill is an amendment to allow people to carry conceal weapons in National Parks and Wildlife Refugees if they have a permit from their state.

What bothers me about this is that the amendment is buried in the middle of a totally unrelated bill. I know this is business as usual for the Hill, but it ticks me off. This is why we need a line item veto. I sent off the following missive to my representatives and will be curious to see their response.

My point is I think things need to be out in the open for open discussion, not hidden in the shadows or depths because of a fear of controversy. Let's be open about the laws and reforms we want, not cowards hiding as far behind the scenes as possible.

Its Common Sense!


Dear Senator,
I have tried to read the legislation regarding consumer protection concerning credit cards, and I am totally puzzled by an amendment in the middle that regards carrying firearms in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. What has that got to do with consumer protection? Why is it necessary to try and hide such legislation in the middle of something totally unrelated?
Unfortunately this appears to be our "representatives" at their worse, appeasing NRA lobbyist, rather than looking out for the concerns of the American public.
To the best of my knowledge, hunting is forbidden in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. There have been no reports of any terrorist attacks in any National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. So, no one should feel threatened.
In states that allow the citizens to go around armed with concealed weapons and automatic military weapons in the trunks of their cars, law enforcement is also armed and able to respond if one of these so called "responsible" citizens get out of hand.
Are park rangers in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges armed? If a weapon carrying citizen decides to see if they can kill an elk by the road in Yellowstone Park with their .45 Glock, are the park rangers trained to deal with the situation?
It appears that Congress has decided that the whole country would prosper if we return to an Old West mentality, only this time citizens will not be carrying .45 Peacemakers, but rather M16 and AK47 assault rifles.
This amendment, by the numbers on Capital Hill who voted in favor of it, show the power of the NRA lobby in D.C. How many body bags are necessary before you folks on the Hill realize we are not 18th century pioneers on the edge of the wilderness, and that the firearms people own are not for hunting game, but for killing one another?
This shows the importance of allowing the President the right to have a line item veto. As long as Senators and Congressional Representatives want to hide their dirty work (after all how are credit card protection and weapon carrying in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges related?) the President should be able to select the parts of bill that are credible and dump the bunk.
Finally, did you vote in favor of this legislation? Have you or are you proposing legislation that will allow the President a line item veto?
Thank you.