The Bush administration has finalized a decision to allow concealed, loaded firearms at 388 of 391 national park sites. That includes the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The administration did not listen to the vast majority of comments from people who said "no" to allowing guns in National Parks. Nor did they listen to the professionals such as the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, the Association of National Park Rangers, and the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).

The cartoon is from the Asheville Citizen-Times. Appalachian Trail Conservancy and CMC both also came out in opposition to this ruling.

“If you’re allowed to carry a concealed weapon on Main Street, you’re allowed to carry that weapon in a national park and wildlife refuge,” an Interior Department spokesman said. Look at the ruling and the directive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

But guns are still forbidden in North Carolina state parks.