SJR 3-FIREARMS IN NATIONAL PARK   8:34:44 AM CO-CHAIR NEUMAN announced that the next order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3, Relating to carrying firearms in national parks. DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Senator Gene Therriault, Alaska State Legislature, pointed out that SJR 3 had unanimous support in the other body. He said the purpose of the resolution is to bring the National Park Service into conformity with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management. These agencies have policies that say whenever a state has a law that allows the carrying of concealed weapons, then a concealed weapon can also be carried on Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service lands. The policy was put into place nationally by the Bush Administration. He noted that Alaska has 75 percent of the nation's national park system and that the national parks in Alaska are somewhat unique with regard to the need for personal protection. The resolution goes further by encouraging the Obama Administration to allow open carry as well as concealed carry. He added that HJR 33 is timely because forces are trying to reverse the policy with a lawsuit that was filed on December 31, [2008]. 8:37:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON, in reference to page 1, line 8, said she is unsure that there has ever been a case of rabies in Alaska. CO-CHAIR JOHNSON responded that a rabid wolf pack in northern Alaska attacked a team of dogs. In further response, he said rabies is rare, but it does happen. REPRESENTATIVE OLSON noted that there has never been a rabid bat in Alaska. CO-CHAIR NEUMAN closed public testimony after ascertaining that no one wished to testify. 8:40:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he understands the concealed weapon issue, but asked whether discussions have occurred in regard to carrying a hunting weapon in national parks where hunting is prohibited and the possibility that the resolution could add fuel to the fire of whether the [National Park Service] can regulate hunting. MR. STANCLIFF replied that this has not come up as any type of conflict between the resolution's policy and the current policy that allows rural residents who are qualified under subsistence provisions to hunt in national parks. There are some allowances in park preserves that make Alaska's national parks unique, he said, but there have been no suggestions or any testimony in opposition to SJR 3 that it would set up any type of conflicts. CO-CHAIR JOHNSON moved to report SJR 3 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, SJR 3 was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.