National Park Carry

[HBK]

Where I live, and it may be like this everywhere, we can carry in the national forests, but not in the natural parks. The problem, besides the restriction on the 2nd ammendment rights, is that the national forests and parks run together. We went camping a few years ago and could have easily ended up in the national park. I don't like going into the woods unarmed because in the event of an attack by a predator, animal or human, I would like to be able to defend myself. Are there any bills working on carry in national parks?

 

[rayra]

none that I've heard of, nor have I ever seen a justification for why the Parks are treated differently.

and I've often read about a motorhome / campsite / tent being considered your 'castle', in terms of being armed within them. Having that happen in a Nat'l Park would be interesting indeed (Fed jurisdiction, but I think they can fob the case off to State / County authorities - may be wrong about that).

I've often gone 'Open Carry' in the Angeles National Forest, and the Sequoia National Forest, and often wondered about potential problems in Nat'l Parks (too).

 

[gunsmith]

Well

http://www.ourcivilrights.org/
Is probably who your looking for
In Yosemite for instance it is generally prohibitted (Nat Park) but (afaik)
if you have a horse you can pack a rifle.IANAL
From www.packing.org
"Firearms in National Forests"


After having a nice chat with a Pro gun National Forest Ranger with more than thirty years service here is what I found out about Firearms in National Forests.

If it is legal for you to carry a firearm concealed in the state the National Forest is in you can carry your firearm concealed in a National Forest in that state. If it is legal to carry a firearm openly on your hip in the state the National Forest is in you can legally carry it that way in the National Forest in that state.

Do be advised that any Ranger Station or Visitors Center in any National Forest is considered a Federal Building. It is illegal to carry any firearm into such a building either concealed or openly even with a CCW from the state the National Forest Ranger Station or Visitors Center is in. We did have a long chat and this Ranger told me that as long as people behaved themselves we would never know they had a concealed handgun any ways.

http://www.packing.org/state/index.jsp/all+united+states

 

[stevelyn]

No problem carrying in national forests, BLM land, or national wildlife refuges.
The Nazi Park Circus and their enforcement minions the ParkStatsPolizei (Rangers) OTOH, prohibit firearms inside the boundries of national parks and preserves. One of the major reasons I don't venture inside the NPs up here. I don't even stop anywhere along the highway while passing through Denali.

 

[Poodleshooter]

I've not seen any CCW regulations on NWR and National Seashores. Does anyone have a link to anything other than the hunting regulations? NWR's are Fish and Wildlife, and National Seashores are NPS,so they may be different. I know the National Forest and National Park rules,but I've wondered about the other public lands. The only rules I've seen for the other lands have been regulations aimed at eliminating poaching,but they may also try to apply that to carriers of concealed weapons.

 

[TCD]

No problem carrying in national forests, BLM land, or national wildlife refuges.
The Nazi Park Circus and their enforcement minions the ParkStatsPolizei (Rangers) OTOH, prohibit firearms inside the boundries of national parks and preserves. One of the major reasons I don't venture inside the NPs up here. I don't even stop anywhere along the highway while passing through Denali.

whoa, I didn't know that back home... I'll stick to places where I can carry(not neccesarily CCW)

 

[spacemanspiff]

you're right, there is no real boundary between national forest and national park (or state park). when i talked with the dept of fish & game, they said that you have the right to protect yourself, and thus carry a weapon, but target shooting is prohibited. and unless you could prove you shot in defense you'd be charged with a crime.

now, there are some parks where that doesnt apply period, like in denali, no firearms whatsoever. but i was asking more for some of the areas along turnagain arm and whatnot.

the state fish and game website even suggests that a person take some form of protection and that 12 gauge slugs or 300 win mag are adequate protection.

another thing, and i forget which it applied to, national forest or state park, but it is one of them, is that concealed carry is prohibited. you could only open carry.

 

[M1911Owner]

'Twill be interesting to see how the so-called "CATO" lawsuit in Washington D.C. plays out. If that case ends up with a recognition that the 2nd Amendment applies to the federal government (Duh!), then it presumably applies in the national parks, as well.

 

[stevelyn]

Gates of the Arctic NP is the exception. Residents of Anaqtuvuk Pass are allowed to hunt within the park boundries since the village sits on the border between the park and preserve.

 

[TCD]

space, that's the impression I was always under or at least, thats what appeared common sense to me. I'll avoid areas where I can't protect myself(from bears)

 

[HBK]

My position is that I just don't go into the national parks for camping purposes. We had a choice between two sites off our trail, one within the park which was nicer and one within the forest. I picked the one within the forest and never plan on going into the park, specifically because they prohibit firearms. Is that a reasonable choice or am I being silly?

 

[The_Antibubba]

M1911Owner

Got a link to this "so-caled CATO" case?

 

[M1911Owner]

Here's one link (I hope this works!): http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8698&highlight=CATO+lawsuit

If you do a search on "CATO lawsuit" you'll find several threads, along with a lot of noise.

The reason I said "so-called CATO" is because it's not actually sponsered in any way by the CATO Institute (as far as I know, anyway), but there are a couple lawyers who are associated with CATO who are involved with the case. So a lot of people call it the "CATO lawsuit," even though CATO doesn't actually have any formal connection with it.

 

[deanf]

No problem carrying in . . . . national wildlife refuges.

See now I was in the Columbia NWR just a few days ago and there were signs here and there that said "no firearms."

But then again you can hunt there for Birds and Deer . . . .