if you ban driving on the beach, how do you expect the people who live on the island year round to survive? how do you think these people make their livings? also, this beach is not for sunbathers, if you wanna sunbathe go to myrtle beach! this beach here is for some mullet smellin', beer drinkin',hardcore, laid back, down right git-r-done fisherman!!when it rains, how many people do you see lying out in the rain?zerooooooooo!!!!!!,, but i garounteee you gonnna see somebody out there waist deep in the water with a fishing rod in their hands wearing hip waders and a rain coat.so what do you think is the best use of this beach?it's a beautiful place, my family and i come every year in october for a whole week and we have a very special person there, who loved it more than anyone i ever knew and it would be a shame to never see it again for all it would lose if there was a ban put on drving on the beach!please think of those who live there and those who don't but only dream too. save all sea turtles!!!seriously! can't we all just get along! i love the smell of mullet and 5:00 am!!!thank ya!if anyone was offfened by this book-sorry,but if the shoe fits, wear it! go mulet!

I was born in 1953, the same year the park was formed. I was raised in Va. Beach, spending vacations and full summers on the islands, for as long as I can remember. I don't currently live in the area, however, the tradition continues with year over year, month long vacations at OBX. I cannot imagine an OBX without the privledge of driving on the beach to my favorite surfing and fishing spots! While I am totally in agreement that there should be land set asside for isolation of wildlife, we must be practical. A bone headed maneuver such as banning driving at CHNS must only be motivated by some misguided plot to sink yet another microcosim economy for the benefit of what? There has got to be something more at stake here. It is apparent to me that they certainly constitute a minority, at least, of the readers of this news paper.

We must give in ONLY to an equitable compromise. Think about it, the plaintiffs in the law suite weren't named by name, they were named as "The Defenders of Wildlife" and "The National Audubon Society". Makes you think about that last donation you made to those guys, right?! Well no matter how you slice it, I am also a defender of the wildlife. I don't r

Here's a post from someone whose family has lived on Hatteras
since the 1700's, and has come to depend on the island and it's
surrounding waters, for survival.

You know, I'm all for taking care of nature. But when it comes
to taking away the livelihood that puts food in our family's
mouths and shelter over their heads, in order for some out of town
whiners to get their way, I think a line has to be drawn.

So what if the beaches are closed, one my ask. Well, let's see...
Okay,look at all those hundreds of beach cottages that
will now sit vacant, because honestly, who will want to spent
several thousand a week to just sit and look at the walls.
Nope, they won't be able to fish anymore. Nor go bath in the
warm Atlantic waters, because they can't so much as walk
across the beach.

And now that makes me think of all the people whose livelihood
depends on the tourist industry. Let's face it...all those
tourist are who brings money into our restaurants, hotels,
fishing charters, and shops. And that's not even half of the
list. I wonder...do these groups ever think of the locals
who have to survive off of the island ? Well...do they ?

As an advid fisherwoman and strong supporter of environmental protections, I feel there must be a solution that offers compromise on both environmental and economic fronts. To close the beaches to vehicular traffic would prove to be extremely foolhardy and short-sighted.

I have family who have lived on Hatteras Island for over 30 years. We have always driven the beach, reveling in the beauty and the solitude. Responsible use of our 4 wheel drives has always been a priority, and we leave the beach cleaner by the removal of trash and storm debris.

There is no doubt economic devastation that would occur with the closure of beaches to vehicular traffic. Homeowners and business owners would realize the loss of revenue, as those who frequent the Outer Banks specifically for the freedom to drive the beaches would most likely decline to visit.

Large fishing tournaments would cease to exist. Participants in both the Hatteras Village and the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club tournaments generate thousands of dollars in local revenue. Factor in the everyday angler who can no longer justify a visit to the Outer Banks and you've just eliminated thousands more. I spend an average of $1500 t

Closing the Hatteras beaches as proposed by the National Audubon Society and Defenders of Wildlife will be an economic disaster to the seven villages in the lower Outer banks. Audubon's and Defender's whole argument is based on bad science, unsupported assumptions, and false premises. They want to wreck the entire economy of this area to perpetuate a stupid little bird that has historically not used this area at all, except for a very small number of strays who get lost on their migration path. How utterly stupid!

The piping plover is a victim of evolution. Man is not impacting the numbers of those birds. It's other predators like herring gulls, great black-back gulls, feral cats, foxes, and other ctitters.

Where are our senators and congressmen on this issue?

As a life long resident of Hatteras Island i feel its time for me to speak up on this subject.Not only will this financially hurt my friends and family and hurt our laid back lifestyle that so many people here and afar have fell in love with,this is another loss of a simple freedom. To be able to jump into your truck ride out on the beach and watch the sunrise or set or jump into the ocean for a swim is a great freedom.So heres my question why are we sending U.S. troops halfway around the world in the name of freedom when where taking freedom away here at home. Timmy Jennette

WAKE UP! What was the intent for creating The National Park system? Was it not created for the preservation of our natural resources for all to USE and enjoy? I was fortunate as a child to have parents that were aware of the unique beauty of the Outer Banks. Since 1960 I have had the priviledge to visit and enjoy the islands. Ever since having children I have often thought of them or their children losing the opportunity to ride the beaches and fish wherever they pleased. I have taught them to have the utmost respect for that privledge and watched as they carried on a tradition of policing the beach for any vehicle abusers and trash and observing all rules of the National Park System. The area has sections that are routinely closed for environmental issues ie: Piping Plover and Sea turtles. We have shared the beaches with these "local inhabitants" for years. As a participant with such clubs as Capital City Four Wheelers and Plus 4 during their annual fishing tournaments we have gladly done our share to not only leave the beach as we found it but actually improved the environment by cleaning the beach before we leave. Is money for preservation the real issue? I'm sure any per

I am a nonresident property owner on Hatteras Island. Making ends meet, or making ends nearly meet, is pretty tough, even for those of us who bought when prices were lower. There is already a slight excess supply of rental homes for current demand. Reducing the demand could easily force many property owners into foreclosure, which would in turn have a devastating effect on the local economy. I urge officials to, at most, close only small sections of the beach for the shortest feasible times. This has been the practice in the past, and it seems to have worked well.

My gradparents started bringing me to Hatt.at two years old...been going ever since.I'm 55 now.The only harm I've ever seen done to these beautiful beaches is the recent restriction on human ability to get to them.Off island special-interest groups forcing their will on a fiercely freedom loving people to eliminate a life style that has been theirs for generations!God help us all!

My husband and I moved back to the Outer Banks in the year 2000. We moved back here because the people are among some of the best in the world. When a problem occurs, the islanders come out in force to take care of it. Whether it is a soccer coach who does not have insurance and has an expensive surgery, natural disasters, or styrofoam washing up on the beach. The economy of the Outer Banks is as fragile as the island it is on. Without the vacationers we don't have a way to survive. No fishermen=no money. It is that simple.