The main topic of conversation at this year's International Snowmobile Congress event in New Hampshire has been the proposed National Park Service snowmobile ban. One of the ways the group is proposing to combat this pending decision is to inundate the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate with individually-printed letters from every snowmobiler.
The following is a draft letter you can copy and paste to send your legislative delegation. Feel free to add to, or delete any part of the letter to help personalize it. Also, please pass this letter along to all of your riding buddies and ask them to do the same.
You can find the mailing addresses for your United States House member by clicking
here and your United States Senator by clicking
here. Here's the letter:
(Member of Congress' Name)
(Mailing Address)
Dear Senator/Representative (Last Name),
As one of thousands of passionate snowmobilers in your state, I was outraged last month when the National Park Service announced a ban on snowmobiling in our national parks.
I'm angry because the Park Service took this action without consulting the very people the ban affects: me and four million other snowmobilers.
If you think I'm angry, wait until the American Public weighs in on this issue. According to a nationwide poll by
USA Weekend, 78 percent of Americans favor responsible recreational vehicle usage in our national parks. Other independent polls yield similar results.
The National Park Service did not allow time for federal, state or local officials to work together on this issue, nor did it bring millions of snowmobilers to the table to discuss the impact of their decision. That's just plain wrong.
I'm counting on you to make sure bureaucrats in Washington don't assume the power to decide who can and cannot use public lands without consulting the people who own them- the American people.
Respectfully,
(Your Name)
(Your Address)