Rainier Ranger Shot

[Red Oak]

I met a ranger hiking in Acadia two years ago and he was armed and was wearing a bulletproof vest on a fairly hot day. He said park rangers are the federal employees (outside active military) most likely to encounter violence as part of their daily job.

I bet the house he was on patrol for weed crops if any time between June and September.Conservative folks have been known to stumble upon mini gardens up in that area in years past.Lots of places around the country have a huge problem with rangers being shot at when in the brush on the hunt for gardens.I recall a story in California where hikers were kept hostage till the growers knew they were not cops and the growers were cartel.Sounds like this young ranger was a nature lover and amazing person,very tragic...[please do not use this post as a reason to discuss narcotic issues,focus should be on Ranger Anderson's heroic actions]

 

[Maddy]

This is so tragic it is difficult to assimilate. You want to just wake up and have it be be very bad dream.

 

[dug]

I am not trying to make light of this tragic situation, but was I the only one who thought of "Rambo, John J" when this first came out?

And, reading that first hand account, that is truly incredible. And scary.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I am not trying to make light of this tragic situation, but was I the only one who thought of "Rambo, John J" when this first came out?

And, reading that first hand account, that is truly incredible. And scary.

No, but now that you mention it, it has lots of those same elements.

When I first heard of this, my first thought was wondering how the gun lobby would use this to strengthen their agenda.

 

[Chip]

When I first heard of this, my first thought was wondering how the gun lobby would use this to strengthen their agenda.

There's comments from both "sides" towards the end of the OP'd article. Not possible to discuss here.

I'm always surprised when these nuts head into parks with rangers. Sad for the family.

 

[David Metsky]

I bet the house he was on patrol for weed crops if any time between June and September.

On popular trails in Acadia NP? I've heard about pot being grown in National Forests, but I don't think the Beehive Trail is a popular marijuana growing zone.

 

[Little Rickie]

My understanding was that his military experience was as a communications specialist. Doesn't sound like he saw combat but can't be sure. This individual may have had serious issues before he went into the service. Hopefully we will find out more as things unfold.

Keith

You never know, war can do strange things to people other than being shot at. A lot of people are changed when the get back. Too bad, for everyone, this guy didn't get the help or enough help when he needed it.

 

[Jaytrek57]

The person had issues before his service.

 

[MichaelJ]

Park to Reopen on Saturday

http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/park-to-reopen.htm

Mount Rainier National Park is reopening to the public on Saturday, January 7, following the tragic fatal shooting of Park Ranger Margaret Anderson. The park family is using the time to begin the recovery process in the aftermath of the horrific events leading up to and following the loss of Ranger Anderson. All services with the exception of snow play will be available this weekend.

Follow the link for the complete press release, including information on the Memorial Fund set up in Ranger Anderson's name.

 

[SAR-EMT40]

The person had issues before his service.

I read that he was given either a bad conduct or medical discharge. I don't believe that any of it was combat stress related. It was drinking, impulse control and other issues. He was definitely released before a full enlistment so there was something going on there.

A BCD is not given lightly. Its not as bad as a dishonorable discharge but it almost always points to someone with serious social/authority issues. Most of the people I saw in the service that got a BCD were not people that I thought were likely to be raving successes in civilian life. Not medical or mental issues. Just bad people. There are people who sometimes get the army or jail mandate from court. I have met many of them. Most straighten out and become productive citizens. Some are wastes of space and they will fit in nowhere. Anytime I see someone posing with weapons like that, and the tattoos, and never actually having the courage to enter a combat MOS, I classify as a wanabee. Only brave enough to shoot a unarmed woman while she is trapped in her car. He was a human waste of space and I'm very glad the family doesn't need to go through years of court proceedings. He died an easier death than he deserved.

Keith

 

[Dave Bear]

I am not trying to make light of this tragic situation, but was I the only one who thought of "Rambo, John J" when this first came out?

And, reading that first hand account, that is truly incredible. And scary.

Actually, I did and referenced it in Facebook but not here as I thought it had poor taste for this forum.

 

[dug]

ouch .

 

[David Metsky]

Moderator Note
Folks, let's keep on topic and away from bombast.

 

[TCD]

While Ranger's have enforcement duties and powers, a guy like this might have been easier to handle for regular state police. Maybe they already have this, but it seems to me that the Ranger service should have a process to sort out situations they should handle (like campers breaking rules) from situations that should be handled by state police, like setting up roadblocks.

But this might have all happened too quickly for the decision making process...

 

[DougPaul]

While Ranger's have enforcement duties and powers, a guy like this might have been easier to handle for regular state police. Maybe they already have this, but it seems to me that the Ranger service should have a process to sort out situations they should handle (like campers breaking rules) from situations that should be handled by state police, like setting up roadblocks.

But this might have all happened too quickly for the decision making process...

The original report said that the ranger were checking cars to make sure they had chains and Ranger Anderson had set up a roadblock to stop a car that had blown through the checkpoint. Barnes (the shooter) was already a suspect in another shooting and the rangers could easily have had no idea that he was in the car.

I expect that the situation developed too quickly to call in outside help.

Doug

 

[DSettahr]

While Ranger's have enforcement duties and powers, a guy like this might have been easier to handle for regular state police. Maybe they already have this, but it seems to me that the Ranger service should have a process to sort out situations they should handle (like campers breaking rules) from situations that should be handled by state police, like setting up roadblocks.

But this might have all happened too quickly for the decision making process...

I'm not sure what kind of training National Park Law Enforcement Rangers get, but in NYS, the Forest Rangers receive pretty much the same training as the State Police (the attend an academy and such). I would imagine that the law enforcement rangers for the Park Service also receive a level of training that is adequate to handle situations like this.

 

[MichaelJ]

I would imagine that the law enforcement rangers for the Park Service also receive a level of training that is adequate to handle situations like this.

At least. A friend of mine who is an NPS ranger did the law enforcement training. It's quite extensive.

 

[Snowflea]

In Joshua Tree National Park yesterday... Visitors Centers had flags flying at half mast in honor of the Rainier ranger. So sad...

 

[Jaytrek57]

Don't know if this was posted or not, but I found it to be a great read.

http://www.freeponder.com/blog/2012/01/02/new-years-day-2012-at-paradise/

 

[Red Oak]

Don't know if this was posted or not, but I found it to be a great read.

http://www.freeponder.com/blog/2012/01/02/new-years-day-2012-at-paradise/

Thank you for posting this....