Here's your outrageous statement of the day: According to the National Rifle Association, guns are necessary in Yellowstone National Park because it is a haven for drug trafficking and drug production. Really.

"This new rule is welcome," said National Rifle Association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. "Violent crimes do occur in our national parks, which have become havens for drug trafficking and drug production. It's reasonable for law-abiding people to have the means to protect themselves from predators, whether it's the four-legged or two-legged variety."

We are in the midst of the gun industry whipping folks into a frenzy over the threat of gun-control legislation at a time when gun controls are actually being loosened. If the NRA is arguing guns are needed in Yellowstone National Park because Yellowstone is a haven for drug trafficking and drug production, then we live in sad times. We don't think the majority of gun owners buy into this nonsense; but when good people are quiet in the face is such nonsense, we all suffer. We still haven't seen a compelling reason for anyone to be packing in Yellowstone, and if concerns about drug production in America's oldest National Park is the best the gun lobby can do, we suspect we never will.

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