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=Guns In Acadia=

By: Robert Nesbitt robbie_nesbitt@hotmail.com


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MOUNT DESSERT ISLAND**- When President Obama signed into law a credit card reform bill, it included a topic that affects those who travel to Acadia National Park every year and all other national parks in the U.S. The amendment allows people to bring guns into America’s national parks. At the state level Gov. John Baldacci signed an amended bill, earlier this month, that regulates guns in Acadia National Park. Baldacci is easing restrictions that Sen. Dennis Damon had hoped to preserve. Damon’s original bill outlawed firearms in national park sites in Maine, and told the Bangor Daily News that he was disappointed with the governor’s choice to sign the amendment. “ I still don’t see any reason why there has to be concealed weapons going through the park,” said Damon. “It seems to me to make it a more dangerous place, a less pleasant experience, rather than a less dangerous place and a more pleasant experience, and I think that’s the wrong direction.” General Manager of Carriages of Acadia, Emily Carpenter, doesn’t understand why a person would need a gun. She doesn’t believe there is any hunting allowed on the park and she questions any other reason a person would feel the need to have a firearm.

“There’s no reason to need that in a national park,” said Carpenter. “If your going to go on a carriage ride you’re probably not going to get mugged.” Carriages of Acadia is a Maine corporation located in Seal Harbor, and is run by the Carpenter Family from Houlton, Maine. Carriages of Acadia provides guests with the most positive park experience possible by giving horse drawn carriage tours of Acadia National Park. They are open for the season beginning Memorial Day weekend. The same time the tourist season will begin at Acadia.