Whatever else it was about, the presidential election last month was a thorough repudiation of the Bush administration. But don't think the public rebuke means anything to those who still have the power and intend to use it -- and the public be damned.

The latest example of the administration's late-hour mischief concerns guns in national parks. For 25 years, a Reagan-era regulation has restricted loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges. Visitors were generally permitted to bring firearms into parks, but they had to be kept unloaded and stowed away, such as in car trunks.

It was a good compromise and it worked, as evidenced by the fact that national parks have not been notorious for incidents of gun carnage. Unfortunately, this peaceful reality means little to those for whom guns are the answer to all societal problems, real or imagined. Last Friday, the Interior Department announced a new regulation that will allow visitors to bring in loaded, concealed firearms, a move supported by the National Rifle Association and the politicians who serve its interests.

True, the privilege will apply only to those with a permit to have a concealed weapon and if the state where the park or refuge is located allows concealed firearms. Among the many that will be affected is Pennsylvania, where Gov. Ed Rendell before the election signed a bill (HB 1845) that, while mandating tougher penalties for gun-related crimes, also allowed concealed guns in state parks. It goes into force Dec. 16.

Far from fostering safety, the practical effect of the new regulation will be to put park rangers and visitors at risk. With firearms so readily at hand, one can easily imagine simple disputes escalating into gunplay, especially if alcohol is involved. Because of the increased risks and the tougher challenge for rangers in combating poaching, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees has opposed the abandonment of the old common-sense rule.

This is one more thing for the incoming Obama administration to correct. Unfortunately, the process of rule-making could take a long time. While that happens, visitors to national parks and refuges in places in Pennsylvania will have one more thing to worry about. The nation's gun culture is a bear -- but potentially much more dangerous.