BELLEVUE, WA – Today’s announcement that the Interior Department has amended its rules and will henceforth allow licensed concealed carry in national parks was hailed as a victory for the Second Amendment by the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

“No longer will American citizens be required to leave their right of self-defense at the gates of a national park,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “This common-sense change in regulations reflects not only changes in the laws of 48 states, but more importantly the Supreme Court’s ruling in June that upheld the individual right to keep and bear arms that is protected by the Second Amendment.”

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Sportsmen Alert!

Ohio hunters should be on high alert. The state House of Representatives, which is under intense pressure from animal rights groups and the media, is considering passing legislation creating a new state agency to regulate dog breeders and kennel owners.

The proponents claim House Bill 223 would only affect “puppy mills” but instead it would eliminate many sporting dog kennels through a tidal wave of fees, fines and red tape while instituting a statewide enforcement authority. The bill treats sporting dog kennels and abusive commercial breeders with the same iron fist. For a complete analysis of HB223 click here.

Additionally, the Senate is debating HB446, which would require that all rabies vaccines be administered by a veterinarian. This would drastically increase the cost of vaccinating dogs, by mandating additional vet visits. HB446 would also increase the minimum fees for registering dogs and kennels by 1000%.

These efforts are supported by the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights/anti-hunting organizations. They are telling members of the legislature to pass these bills in December, just before newly elected legislators take office. This time period is referred to as lame duck session. Usually only emergency bills are passed during this timeframe.

Legislators must hear from Ohio sportsmen today regarding HB223 and HB446. They must be told how devastating these bills are and that there is no good reason to ram them through during lame duck session. These bills deserve a full and open debate prior to their passage.

By John R. Lott, Jr.

Banning guns is in the news. India practically bans guns, but that didn't stop the horrific Muslim terrorist attacks this last week.

A football player concerned for his safety violates New York City's tough gun control regulations by carrying a concealed handgun, and people call for everything from banning NFL players from carrying guns to demanding that the athlete serve many years in jail.

Where is the sympathy or debate in either case over letting people defend themselves? Given that the terrorists smuggled their machine guns in with them, would anyone argue that India's extremely strict gun licensing and artificially high prices for guns helped prevent the terrorist attacks? In fact, the reverse is more likely the case.

Would Plaxico Burress, the New York Giant's receiver who was arrested yesterday, really have been safer just trusting the police to protect him?

Click here for the entire op-ed at FOXNews.com.