The new rule says park visitors would need a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and the state where the park is located must allow guns in its own parks. Concealed weapons are allowed in Washington’s state parks.

Current regulations require weapons to be temporarily inoperable or stowed so they are not easily accessible.

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced the proposed change. The announcement begins a 60-day public comment period.

The current regulations were adopted in 1981 for national wildlife refuges and in 1983 for national parks. Since then, many states have enacted new firearms policies. Forty-eight states have passed legislation allowing for the lawful possession of concealed weapons.

Late last year, with backing from the National Rifle Association, 51 U.S. senators wrote Kempthorne urging a change in the regulations.

He announced in February that a review would take place and a proposal made by Wednesday.

In releasing the proposal, Interior Department officials wrote: “Existing federal regulations governing firearms in national parks and national wildlife refuges, promulgated before many of these state laws were in effect, properly limit poaching and target practice, but unnecessarily disable or limit the ability of law-abiding citizens to possess, carry, and transport a concealed firearm.

“Under the proposed amendment, visitors must have authority to possess loaded and concealed firearms on analogous state lands before they will be allowed to carry firearms in federal park areas and refuges.”

In Washington there are around 200,000 people with permits to carry concealed weapons, which are permitted in state parks.

Washington’s concealed pistol licenses also are recognized in seven other states, and licenses issued in those listed states are recognized in Washington. The states are North Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Utah and Michigan, according to the state attorney general’s office.

“I think the intent is good and is moving in the right direction,” said Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation in Bellevue.

“Law-abiding citizens should not be prohibited from protecting themselves and their families while enjoying America’s national parks and wildlife refuges,” said Chris Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist.

The NRA said the proposal would provide uniformity across federal lands and put an end to the patchwork of regulations that governed different lands managed by different federal agencies.

Scot McElveen of the Association of National Park Rangers disagreed with that assessment.

“We fail to see one of the arguments made that this would be less confusing. We fail to see how that would be accurate. We have one regulation for all 390 units of the National Park Service. We’re going to change this to 50 different rules. We fail to see how that mishmash of regulations will be less confusing to gun owners and the general public,” McElveen said.

“These changes are unnecessary. The current common sense Reagan-era rules adequately respect gun owners’ rights while protecting public safety and wildlife,” said Sean Smith, Northwest regional director for the National Park Conservation Association.

“Obviously, we’re concerned with the changes this could bring, accidental shootings, impulse shootings of wildlife and the change in the experience of going to a national park,” Smith added.

U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, has been vocal in his opposition to making any changes. In March, Dicks said he was prepared to block any effort by the administration to lift the current ban on carrying loaded weapons in national parks.

His view hadn’t changed Monday afternoon.

“Obviously we’re disappointed the existing regulation was changed. We thought it was adequate and worked well,” he said.

Dicks said he was planning to meet today with Department of Interior officials to hear their explanations.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure

TO COMMENT

The proposed change on guns in national parks can be read at www.doi.gov. Written comments will be accepted through June 30.

You can submit comments, which should be identified by the number 1024-AD70, by the following methods:

Online: www.doi.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: 1024-AD70; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.