Recreational shooters are being blamed for starting forest fires across the West, including the stubborn blazes now sweeping across large swaths of Colorado, prompting gun control proponents to call for rescinding a 2010 federal law that lifted restrictions on firearms in national parks.
And in some instances, where there’s smoke, there’s gunfire: Irresponsible target-shooters have given gun-grabbers a golden opportunity to use these calamities to attack all gun owners.
At least 19 forest fires this year in Utah have been attributed to irresponsible firearms use, according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
In Colorado, the FBI, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Forest Service have determined that the huge fire threatening Colorado Springs was caused by recreational target-shooters.
The fallout from these fires could be a knee-jerk review of the 2010 federal law, prohibiting states from banning firearms in 389 of 392 national parks.
The fact that none of the fires were ignited by firearms used in a national park, but on other public lands where recreational shooting was already allowed before 2010, is a nettlesome detail that won’t derail gun-control zealots’ demands to make forests gun-free zones.
Use common sense when enjoying firearms on public lands or gun-grabbers will impose their version of “common sense” restrictions on all gun owners.
For more, go to:
Video: Wildfires in Utah spark off debates over gun rights
Utah shooters spark 20 wildfires — and a gun rights controversy
Raging Wildfires in Colorado prompts FBI investigation
Officials: Gunfire likely started Springer blaze
