Greetings:  I have been camping in the national forests of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina for the last 40 years or so.  I enjoy the outdoors very much.  In order to camp, hike, bike, etc. i now have to lock up my legal firearm and leave it in the car.  I do not expect to have a problem with this under most circumstances but this does pose an undue risk of getting it stolen from the vehicle.

Also, there is the matter of self-defense.  In the woods, there could be instances where a firearm is needed.  For instance, a friend had to put down a rabid fox a couple years back to avoid harm to his son.

It is my opinion the lawful carry of concealed of a firearm should extend from the city to the wide open forest.  I do not see a downside to this issue.  People with permits have been trained with the proper use of a firearm.  People carrying unlawfullly are more of a risk and actually give more credance to the need for personal protection.

Thanks.