Concealed carrying of firearms may come to national parks

Stephanie Hemphill

Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — The National Rifle Association has been pushing the Interior Department for years to allow people who've been issued permits to carry concealed guns, to bring them into national parks.

Visitors need protection from wild animals, according to the NRA's Rachel Parson. And national parks have become havens for crime, she says.

"Park visitors are not immune from attacks from criminals or animals," Parson said. "Crimes occur on parkland every day. And it is very important that law-abiding citizens be able to protect themselves while they're enjoying the national parks in this country."