A proposal to let visitors to national parks carry concealed weapons is one of the goofier ideas to be hatched by the Bush administration.
But Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne recently announced plans to reverse a 25-year-old rule banning loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges.
Kempthorne says the proposal is in keeping with right-to-carry weapons laws passed by states. He's also responding to the gun toters who argue that visitors would be much safer if everyone were allowed to pack heat inside the national parks.
The measure applies only in states that allow handguns in state parks. Fortunately, Pennsylvania doesn't permit that, and New Jersey issues few handgun permits, so area parks should remain gun-free.
With good reason, park rangers, retirees and conservation groups oppose the plan. It could endanger park personnel and other visitors, not to mention wildlife. Kempthorne should see that.
Since the rule wouldn't apply to every national park, the provision could also create confusion among the well-armed vacationing public.
Besides, what's the point?
Federal parks already are some of the most crime-free settings in the nation. Introducing gun-slinging tourists into the mix isn't going to improve safety.
But it will please the National Rifle Association, which supports the idea. Kempthorne says that 51 U.S. senators also urged him to change the rules on handguns. Which raises a question: Don't they have anything better to do?
This proposal is just another diversion from making progress on sensible gun-control laws that truly could keep Americans safer.