The House passed legislation today that will crack down on the unscrupulous practices of credit card companies. But tucked within that same legislation was an amendment, added by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), that would allow people to carry loaded and concealed firearms in national parks. The House allowed a split vote so that those who wished to go on record as being against the gun law could do so but that section passed 279-147. The Democratic breakdown (roll call here) was 105 yea, 145 nay. The Senate got gun friendly on Tuesday with a 67-29 vote that included 27 Democrats in the “pro” column. 

More background on the gun law from the LA Times: 

It’s a last-minute Bush administration policy, written by lobbyists for the National Rifle Assn., that was  pushed through the Interior Department as President George W. Bush was leaving office.

The rule, now a federal law, allows the carrying of concealed, loaded weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges in states where people are legally allowed to carry concealed arms. Proponents argued that the policy would give weapons owners more clear rules, and essentially allows guns in all but three of the nation’s 391 parks.

The gun rule was criticized by a broad coalition of groups, including law enforcement, park rangers and former Park Service directors. Opponents cited statistics showing that parks are among the safest places in the country and said the presence of guns would create a law enforcement nightmare and might lead to poaching.

Bill Wade, Executive Council chair of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, said today:   “Legislators who voted for this amendment now have to live with the fact that they have, in fact, increased the risk to visitors and employees, as well as the risk to wildlife and some cultural resources. Moreover, they’ve just contributed to diminishing the specialness of this country’s National Park System. We hope the American people register their disappointment in the actions of these legislators.”

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) has a point when she says “The NRA is basically taking over the House and the  Senate. If the NRA wins on each and every bill, the American people are going to suffer the most.”