Staying Alive

LawDog once again says it better than anyone:

"She was doing everything she was supposed to do to stay alive."

Make sure you read every single word of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article describing what Meredith Emerson went through before she was murdered.

Then just try to tell me that if she'd had a gun with the training and will to use it, the outcome could possibly have been any worse.

I sent e-mails to the agencies responsible for managing the areas in Georgia where this happened asking if they prohibit carrying of loaded handguns by hikers and campers for personal protection. Their replies follow:

• The area where Meredith Emerson was first abducted was Vogel State Park. Their response: "Firearms are not allowed at Georgia State Parks unless they are unloaded, cased and stored. At Vogel and at most of our other sites, we have certified law enforcement rangers that are armed and provide visitor protection on our sites." Yeah, right.


• Her car was found in Chattahoochee National Forest. Handguns are allowed in National Forests in accordance with state law. Legislation is now being considered to allow them in National Parks, with the usual panty-wetter hysterics.


• The reply from Dawson Forest, where she was finally killed, is interesting: "The regulations state you are not allowed to carry a weapon on your person while on any Wildlife Management Area unless you are actively hunting legal game. Would you ever be checked? Maybe not but its [sic] possible. We (Georgia Forestry Commission) rely on Georgia DNR to handle all Law Enforcement so it would be up to the officer. Personally, I don't think you'd have any problems hiking on Dawson Forest but I can understand why you may feel more comfortable."

Ya think? I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six.