A recent press release from Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an organization comprised of park rangers and other government workers, reveals a disturbing trend in the National Park Service: law enforcement numbers have halved since 2010 despite rising park attendance. When we consider that firearms are still banned in many Park Service buildings, a key anti-gun argument falls apart.

Less Law Enforcement Patrolling Parks

When you go to any U.S. national park, you’ll see lots of people wearing badges. But, unlike outside the park, there are all sorts of park rangers, most of which are not engaged in law enforcement. Non-LEO rangers do things like guide tours, issue permits for special activities, answer visitor questions, sell admission at entry gates, conduct research and help people who have gotten hurt or lost.

These non-LEO ranger jobs are essential to the running of the park service, but law enforcement rangers are still needed for public safety and enforcement of criminal violations. Not only are they the only Park Service employees authorized to carry firearms, but they’re also the only ones who can make arrests and show up to court to help prosecute criminals.

Sadly, the federal government hasn’t been keeping the number of law enforcement rangers up, despite new records for park visitors every year. Just since 2021, more than a quarter of rangers have left the agency and were not replaced. Since 2010, 48% of ranger slots went vacant with no replacement. Many parks have few visitors during the off season and “shoulder seasons,” but seasonal ranger jobs have mostly disappeared, going from 825 slots in 2010, 323 in 2021, and only 43 positions in 2023. NPS special agents that conduct plainclothes investigations are also way down, with only 30 special agents on the job today.

“The Park Service’s ranger force is in deteriorating condition and getting worse,” stated Pacific PEER Director Jeff Ruch, pointing to the House proposed FY 2025 budget that would cut overall NPS funding by 12.5%, resulting in the loss of another estimated 1,000 park staff. “This steady ebb of ranger staffing puts both visitors and park resources at greater peril.” 

Because National Park visitation is constantly growing, response times and the safety of the remaining officers are both getting far worse.

”You Don’t Need A Gun, We Have Cops”

In 2009, President Barack Obama begrudgingly signed a law repealing the outright carry ban that had existed up until then in national parks after it was inserted in a must pass bill. Since then, the agency has only been allowed to ban guns from buildings where their employees work. But, the agency has interpreted that ability rather liberally, defining almost everything as a ban-worthy building, including natural formations like caves.

But, with all of the rangers, nobody needs a gun, right?

That argument was suspect in 2009, as even then there weren’t cops everywhere and some banned buildings can be dozens of miles along twisty roads from the nearest law enforcement ranger. But, with these severe cuts to law enforcement presence, the remaining shreds of validity in that argument go away.

If anything, the service should repeal the building bans, allowing the public and the employees of contractors to carry for personal defense. NPS should also work to train non-LEO rangers to carry for lawful personal defense and defense of visitors, even if they wouldn’t be allowed to make arrests or engage in other law enforcement activities.