Norton Calls on NPS to Prioritize Safety by Canceling All Public Gathering Permits and Removing New Campsites Until After Inauguration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter to the Acting Director of the National Park Service (NPS) in support of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser's request that NPS cancel all Public Gathering Permits and deny any application for Public Gathering Permits in the District until January 24, 2021, when all presidential inauguration activities are complete. Norton also sent a separate letter requesting that NPS clear new campsites on its property and arrest individuals for gun violations.
"We cannot allow our parks to be used as staging grounds for terrorist attacks," Norton said. "Our law enforcement should be able to focus on protecting the District."
The U.S. Park Police has the authority to enforce both federal and D.C. law, and the District prohibits both open carrying of guns and carrying of guns outside the home without a concealed carry permit issued by the D.C. government. Camping is also prohibited in NPS parks in the District. In accordance with pandemic public health guidelines, NPS has not been removing campsites to avoid spreading the coronavirus, but when the risk of infection is weighed against the growing risk of violence in the District, public safety requires the removal of new campsites, which may be connected to the widely reported threats of terrorist attacks in the District in the days leading up to, and immediately following, the presidential inauguration.
The full text of the two letters follows.
January 13, 2021
Margaret Everson
Acting Director
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
Dear Acting Director Everson:
I am deeply concerned about reports I have received from District of Columbia residents that individuals potentially carrying guns have begun setting up new campsites in the last few days on National Park Service (NPS) land in the District of Columbia, such as on the NPS park at the corner of 5th Street NW and Upshur Street NW. These individuals are likely connected to the widely reported threats of terrorist attacks in the District in the days leading up to and immediately following the presidential inauguration. As you know, there are NPS parks in neighborhoods throughout the District, including in heavily residential areas. In light of the grave threat to public safety, I urge NPS to use all of its authority to protect the District, including by arresting individuals for gun violations and clearing new campsites.
Under federal law, an individual is prohibited from possessing a gun in an NPS park unless the individual is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a gun and the possession of the gun is in compliance with the law of the state, including D.C., in which the park is located. The District prohibits the carrying of a gun outside of the home unless the person has a concealed carry permit issued by D.C. Open carry is prohibited. It is unlikely any armed individual in a new campsite in an NPS park in D.C. has such a permit. The U.S. Park Police has the authority to enforce both federal and D.C. law. I urge you to give special priority to the enforcement of federal and D.C. gun laws in the days leading up to and immediately following the inauguration.
Camping is prohibited in NPS parks in the District. I understand that NPS is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in not removing NPS campsites to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus. The pandemic-related risk should be weighed against the growing risk of violence in D.C. in the days leading up to and immediately following the inauguration. Therefore, I urge you to remove any new campsites on NPS land in the District during this period. We cannot allow NPS land in the District to be used as a staging ground for terrorist attacks.
Considering the urgency of this matter, I ask that provide a written response to this letter by the close of business on Friday, January 15, 2021.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton
January 13, 2021
Margaret Everson
Acting Director
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
Dear Acting Director Everson:
I write in support of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser's request that the National Park Service (NPS) cancel all Public Gathering Permits and deny any application for Public Gathering Permits from now through January 24, 2021, when all presidential inauguration activities are over. In light of the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week, we cannot allow NPS land to be used as a staging ground for terrorist attacks. In addition, during this period, public safety resources should be devoted to protecting the nation's capital, not managing large crowds.
There are reports that the same insurrectionists who threatened the Vice President, Members of Congress and democracy last week, as well as their supporters, are planning to gather in the District ahead of the inauguration. It is essential to the safety of District of Columbia residents, the District government and the federal government that we limit the availability of meeting places for domestic terrorists during this critical time.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton
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