Navy RPA Comments- Through 12/18/2020
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Navy RPA Comments- through 12/18/2020 I object to the Navy’s proposal to use our State Parks for training. There are serious problems with the proposal. Allowing the Navy to use our State Parks for training would further militarize our society, taking over a large number of parks (29) for military training. We use our parks for peace, solitude, getting back to nature, getting in tune with our family and ourselves. There is no need to use these spaces. Stop, just stop. This is a terrible idea. I firmly object. This is wrong. Stop.1 The Navy has and continues to destroy our state and national parks, our homes, environment, wildlife and communities with toxic jet noise and war games. Our State Parks are for us the Citizens, not military war games. Just say no to the Bullish Toxic Navy.2 I OBJECT to the Navy’s proposal to use our State Parks for training! There are serious problems with the proposal. Allowing the Navy to use our State Parks for training would further militarize our society, taking over a large number of parks (29) for military training. One of the key responsibilities for civil authorities is to tell the military when enough is enough. Just say NO to using public parks for military training!3 In these days of great division in our civil society, we don't need stealthy men in camo uniforms toting toy guns around our State and County Parks. People frequent parks to escape tension, not to encounter more. Keep the Navy commando training out of our parks!4 Please don’t let the military train in our parks.5 I am vehemently opposed to allowing military training in our 29 public parks. This practice is absolutely in opposition with the mission and regulations of our State Park system and puts public safety at risk. The Navy has sufficient land to practice spying with realistic looking weapons without putting actual civilians who are uninformed in harms way. This is ludicrous when weapons are not allowed in our parks! Military training in our public parks does not meet the stated goals for parks to care for state resources and provide recreational access to the public. Please do not allow this proposal to go forward.6 I am the daughter of a navy commander from WWII. I am opposed to using our park system for wargames. In addition to the risks posed to frequent walkers, dogs, forest wildlife, and fragile eco- systems, outdoor recreation has become essential for safe activities in the covid19 pandemic. The navy owns property on Indian Island etc with similar land and sea approaches for necessary training.7 The Navy has plenty of other places to train, many of them right next to the parks they want to use. This is inconsistent with mission, vision and core values not to mention the regulations of the State Park system and has a real potential for harm. I AM SAYING NO TO USING PUBLIC PARKS FOR MILITARY TRAINING. The people have already said this.8 As lifelong residents of Washington state we are against the Navy being allowed to use our state parks for military training purposes. The mission of our state parks is caring for state resources for the recreation of citizens not providing a training ground for military exercises. It is a bad precedent to set. We don’t want to be part of an exercise where we are being “spied on” by people carrying “fake” weapons for whatever purpose they conjure up. Please deny this request.9 Do not allow Navy training involving unknowing citizens in Washington State Parks!10 Hello, I strongly object to the Navy’s proposal to use our State Parks for training. The state parks are for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and for the care of the natural beauty and wildlife. The Navy's proposal does not meet the standard and needs to be rejected, furthermore: • Allowing the Navy to use any State Park for training would further militarize our society. • The Navy has plenty of other places to train. Navy RPA Comments- through 12/18/2020 • There is very real potential for harm to result from the activities the Navy is proposing. • Trainees will be carrying realistic looking fake weapons. This would clearly be problematic in our parks, where weapons are not allowed. • Having military training activities in our parks is inconsistent with the mission, vision, and core values of the State Park system. • Having military training activities in our parks is inconsistent with State Park regulations.11 I don't want this to spoil my time in our state parks. To quote from the assistant director of State Parks, the mission is “to care for state resources and provide recreational access to the public.” This proposal does not meet that standard and needs to be rejected. To quote from a letter to the editor: "One of the key responsibilities for civil authorities is to tell the military when enough is enough. It the citizens don’t put limits on military activities, expansion will never cease. It is up to us, the citizenry, to take that stand and draw the appropriate line. It is not unpatriotic or disrespectful to set limits on the military – it is our responsibility. Just say NO to using public parks for military training."12 I'm writing to let you know of my objection to the Navy’s proposal to use our State Parks for training as described by the 2/11/20 article in the South Whidbey Record newspaper. While I would object at any time to the use of our state parks for military practice exercises where the Navy carries apparent weapons and spies on park users, during these times of increased awareness of abuses of power and spread of conspiracy theories, it is reckless and irresponsible. My family was been involved with CERT disaster preparedness practices, and it is possible to carry out practice exercises AND be transparent to the public.13 I have just learned that the Navy wants to use our parks for training. I am opposed to this for the following reasons: The Navy has plenty of other places to train, many of them right next to the parks they want to use. When challenged, they admitted that it was the presence of civilians on whom they could spy that made the parks desirable. Many park users have real and reasonable objections to being spied on. There is very real potential for harm to result from the activities the Navy is proposing. Although the Navy claims to alert park staff and local law enforcement before an activity, in the five years they have used five parks they have never actually done that. Trainees will be carrying realistic looking fake weapons. This would clearly be problematic in our parks, where weapons are not allowed. Having military training activities in our parks is inconsistent with the mission, vision, and core values of the State Park system.14 I object to the use of state parks for navy training. It is the antithesis of the purpose of state parks to allow them to be used for military practice exercises on unaware Washingtonians. Please do not permit this militarization of our great state resource.15 I am writing to oppose opening state parks to war games of any nature. Parks are where we take our families to enjoy peace and quiet and interact with nature. The very thought of armed military, even if the “arms” are not actual firearms, leaping out of bushes is the very antithesis of a park. Please, do not agree to the pressure from the military to war games in our parks!16 The state parks are places for recreation, relaxation and tranquility and should be safe and secure. Seeing Military Service Members in battle dress with rubber replicas of assault rifles and other military equipment hiding in the bushes, stalking and observing park visitors IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IS DEEPLY DISTURBING. Particularly so for those park visitors with young children. It beggers belief that anyone in a position to allow this situation to occur is even considering it and that we the people have to stand up and object to this in any formal way. The very idea that this could occur in parks that the citizens of Washington State own and are taxed to maintain is unconscionable. THIS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO OCCUR.17 Navy RPA Comments- through 12/18/2020 I object to the Navy’s proposal to use our State Parks for training. There are serious problems with the proposal. Allowing the Navy to use our State Parks for training would further militarize our society, taking over a large number of parks (29) for military training. One of the key responsibilities for civil authorities is to tell the military when enough is enough. Just say NO to using public parks for military training.18 I am writing to voice my opposition to the proposal by the US Navy that they use our State Parks for training purposes. The Navy has no shortage of places to train, while the civilian population relies on our parks to provide safe and peaceful recreation, especially in this time of a raging pandemic. I am horrified that it is even under consideration. I understand that the privacy of park users could be compromised by these exercises and strongly object to that possibility. To quote from the assistant director of State Parks, the mission is “to care for state resources and provide recreational access to the public.” This proposal does not meet that standard and needs to be rejected.