Being afraid of legally carried firearms is obtuse. People need to be afraid of illegally carried firearms. Those are the ones that are up to no good.

There are many reasons to carry in State Parks. Primarly as protection against rabid animals, poachers (Who are often times violent), drug farmers (who are guarenteed to be violent) and not to mention the potential use as a signaling device should you get lost or injured while camping or hiking.

Being a Park Ranger is one of the most dangerous jobs in law enforcement. Ranger's are killed all the time by drug farmers and poachers who carry firearms in State Parks illegally. God forbid you or your family wonder upon one of these characters alone in the woods. There is no 911 or any government entity to come to your rescue. There is a reason Park Rangers are so heavily armed while they travel, because they know there is no backup coming anytime soon. They commonly carry a combination of a shotgun, pistol and semi-automatic rifle like an AR-15. If law enforcement and the government believe it behooves their employees to carry thusly armed for their safety, then why wouldn't private citizens take a hint and do the same?

Why do so many of us enjoy hiking and camping? Because it gives us a chance to get away from society and experience the freedom and challenge of self reliance in nature. Carrying a firearm as a tool while in the woods is only exercising your natural right to preservation and self defense. Carrying a firearm in the parks makes the same sense as it does down the street in Richmond or Norfolk.