Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wrote a letter to US Secretary of the Interior Salazar asking him to support “to support recently adopted regulations allowing concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges. Secretary Salazar has directed a review of the regulations that were approved by the previous administration” (Concealed, 2009, ¶1).
“The possession and use of firearms are critical to urban and rural hunters in Alaska. As you know, my state contains vast, pristine areas where the ability to carry firearms can address a potentially life-threatening situation, enabling citizens to respond to bear and other wildlife conflicts. In addition, many urban and rural hunters utilize firearms in the pursuit of wildlife to satisfy their nutritional and cultural needs. Like the residents of other states, Alaskans also rely on firearms for self-defense in the vast acreage encompassed by our national parks and refuges. “In my opinion, reliance on state laws governing the possession and transport of firearms will not detract from the purposes of national parks and wildlife refuges. Existing state and federal laws are adequate to protect public safety and natural and cultural resources against poaching, vandalism, and other offenses.”
Commentary
Governor Palin is a life member of the NRA; one of the few women who can hunt and field dress moose (these animals weigh up to 1,000 lbs), is proficient with rifles probably up to the .375 H&H Magnum caliber and 12-gauge shotguns. She can probably own anything within 300 – 500 yards of her. With a .50 BMG and a good scope, anything within 1.5 miles of Governor Palin can be hers. She leans into it, does not flinch and never misses.
Being an ardent 2nd Amendment supporter myself — and the first picture of Governor Palin I ever saw being her with the M-4 — are the reason it in various forms became my avatar/profile photo on all websites where I do political advocacy. A friend of mine told me a second-hand story about how a high-ranking NRA leader in Alaska had a meeting, which included an auction. Sarah — the Governor — asked what she could do to help — and spent the entire night holding up and showing the items to be auctioned!!!
If you place any value at all on the Second Amendment, you will not find anyone better than Governor Palin to ensure that our right to keep and bear arms is cherished. She understands concepts such as the value of hunting and the right to self-defense.
Governor Palin inspired me to join the NRA as an Easy Pay Life member. Six weeks ago, I went to Sunset Hill Shooting Range in PA (a place I had wanted to go for years), and shot a range-owned Galil AR .223, an SA-58 (FAL), AR-30, M-1 Garand, Springfield Armory 1911 .45 ACP, a Mossberg 500 12-gauge, and a Smith & Wesson Model 500 .50 caliber revolver. For a first-timer, I did great. Governor Palin also inspired this trip. I’d love for her to come to this range with about $300 and have at it. 
References
Governor expresses support to Salazar for concealed weapons regulations. State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1654
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