Washington Set To Close 13 State Parks

Washington state will be forced to close 13 state parks under a new budget proposal set forth by Governor Chris Gregoire.  The new budget will be focusing on saving the state $3.5 billion and allow them to not raise any new taxes in the coming year.  The state park cuts come on the heels of a similar measure in Illinois that recently sent shock-waves through the outdoors community.  Governor Gregoire claims that the state park cuts will save the state an annual $5.2 million dollars if the parks are closed. Washington will also be taking away $35.8 million in Natural Resources funding.

Click through the jump to read the details and see a list of what Washington state parks are set to close.

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President-Elect Obama Meets With Conservation Groups

Incoming President Barack Obama is being championed for recently meeting with some of the top national conservation organizations, a step that many say is unheard of from an incoming President.  Seven representatives from Obama’s transition team recently met up with officials from Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, The Izaak Walton League of America, The National Wild Turkey Federations, and the Boone & Crockett club.

You can read more about this important meeting by Clicking Here>>>

Alaska Alright With Allowing Guns in National Parks

The state of Alaska was quick to jump to the tune of President George W. Bush’s decision to allow loaded and concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges.  As a matter of fact, Alaska says that their gun laws have allowed for guns in most of their parks for quite some time.  They think it is nice that the nation is finally catching up to what they have been doing for years.

If you are not aware of the new rules that have recently been enacted concerning national park gun laws, then I can direct you to the latest update found at U.S. Outdoors Today.

We’ve had guns in the ANILCA parks since 1980 with no real troubles,” noted Alaska region spokesman John Quinley. The legislation creating the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or ANILCA, parks has always allowed for guns to be carried.

This quote is coming from an article in today’s Anchorage Daily News.  The article then goes on to say that there are so many in guns in Alaska, that everyone just thought that this was the norm–that everyone was allowed to carry.

To read the full extent of the article and to get more Alaska thoughts on the recent national park gun laws, Click Here>>>>

Breaking News: President George W. Bush Lifts National Park Gun Ban

President George W. Bush and the Interior Department have lifted the 25 year-old ban on allowing loaded weapons in United States National Parks. The new measure will begin in January and will allow the carrying of loaded and concealed weapons in parks where states already allow concealed weapons in other venues. This new measure will also override any state law against concealed and loaded weapons in parks, as long as that state has other legal laws for the carrying of concealed weapons. (confused?)

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