If the government decides to reform the credit card industry, you may be able to celebrate by bringing a gun into Yellowstone National Park and firing some celebratory shots into the air.

Well, maybe you won’t be able to shoot randomly. But you will be able to bring a firearm inside, maybe to defend yourself against Old Faithful, who’s always giving you the stink eye. Because the Senate has somewhat randomly voted to attach a provision to allow guns into national parks onto the bill.

“It’s just wacky,” said Jon Houston, an aide speaking on behalf of Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the bill’s chief House sponsor who has been pushing for a crack down on credit card practices for two years.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., saw an opportunity to grab on to a comparatively fast-moving target, since lawmakers are under the gun to finalize a credit card bill in the next 11 days. Keeping pressure on Congress, President Obama held a town hall in New Mexico on Thursday inviting consumers who had written or called the White House about their credit card companies.

Coburn, speaking on the Senate floor, said his move “isn’t a ‘gotcha’ amendment” but a genuine step to protect the Second Amendment. The measure would reverse a federal judge’s decision in March block a last-minute rule change by President George W. Bush to allow park visitors to carry concealed weapons.

Well, you can’t please everyone all of the time. Which, we suppose, is reason enough to arm yourself.

Credit cards and gun rights – Huh? [CNN Money]
(Photo:Ben Popken)

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