Commends Candy Neville, Encourages Jeff Merkley to Take Position on Issue
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2008
Portland – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Steve Novick today asked fellow Oregonians to join him in calling on the Bush administration not to reverse a 70-year-old rule prohibiting citizens from carrying loaded guns in National Parks.
“I support the 2nd Amendment and an individuals’ right to bear arms, but I agree with park rangers that letting people carry loaded guns in Crater Lake National Park is a mistake,” said Novick, who has brought attention to the issue several times in recent months. “Gordon Smith and George W. Bush continue to play politics by pandering to a largely imaginary audience on issues like this, while ignoring the real challenges we face with our economy, health care system and dependence on foreign oil. I hope Oregonians will join me in asking the Department of Interior to stop wasting our time with this unnecessary and dangerous rule change.”
Yesterday, the Bush Department of Interior announced draft rules to reverse a 70-year-old policy banning the possession of loaded firearms in national parks. Gordon Smith joined other Senators in a December 14, 2007 letter to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne calling for repeal of the restrictions. The Department will take public comment on the proposed revisions over the next 60 days. Novick submitted a statement on the issue through the Regulations.gov website and encouraged Oregonians to do so too here.
In February, the Willamette Week noted Novick and fellow Democratic candidate Candy Neville’s opposition to the proposed changes. In contrast, Jeff Merkley refused to take a position on the issue, saying he needed to consult with some of the Senators who supported the idea. In late March, he told the Bend Bulletin he was still studying the issue. [Willamette Week, 2/20/08; Bend Bulletin, 3/23/08]
“Ms. Neville and I have offered Oregonians a clear idea of where stand on the issue. Jeff Merkley has been studying it for over two months,” said Novick. “As I’ve said throughout this campaign, I think voters are entitled to honest answers about what you believe and what you’d do in office. During this period of public comment, I hope he can make up his mind and let the public know his thinking on this important issue.”
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