Robbie — If you are legal to carry in the state’s State Park, then you can now carry concealed in a National Park within that state. However, many of the buildings in the parks are federally protected and you cannot enter them with a gun regardless. Such buildings are well posted.
One point of clarification — the new law doesn’t require you to follow state law concerning state parks. That was in the Bush administration regulation that a federal court put on ice, which is why the Congress passed language that turned out to be much broader:
The Secretary of the Interior shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm including an assembled or functional firearm in any unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System if–
(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and
(2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System is located.
I escaped from the NPS right after this law went into effect…my bosses were going nuts because people would be legal to carry guns in the park…they about had collective coronaries when my coworker informed them that she had a CCW permit and desired to carry at work. The wrong thing to do, but it was very entertaining to watch them sweat, stammer, and roast in their fear…
12 Responses to “National Parks”
wait, is CCW allowed in National Parks?????
By Rob Engh on Jul 1, 2010
That’s a cool pic!!!!!
By Prdator on Jul 2, 2010
Robbie — If you are legal to carry in the state’s State Park, then you can now carry concealed in a National Park within that state. However, many of the buildings in the parks are federally protected and you cannot enter them with a gun regardless. Such buildings are well posted.
By ToddG on Jul 2, 2010
Dude, standing in front a National Park sign is the most outdoorsey thing I’ve ever seen you do!
By piggy_wiggly on Jul 2, 2010
I’m not sure of the pose though, it’s kinda of like a Michael Jackson crotch grab kind of thing?
By Rob Engh on Jul 2, 2010
If you were that close, you should have stopped by my house, I’d have bought you a beer.
By Brice on Jul 2, 2010
Checking your package?
By Darwin on Jul 5, 2010
One point of clarification — the new law doesn’t require you to follow state law concerning state parks. That was in the Bush administration regulation that a federal court put on ice, which is why the Congress passed language that turned out to be much broader:
The Secretary of the Interior shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm including an assembled or functional firearm in any unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System if–
(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and
(2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System is located.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ024.111
By John on Jul 6, 2010
I escaped from the NPS right after this law went into effect…my bosses were going nuts because people would be legal to carry guns in the park…they about had collective coronaries when my coworker informed them that she had a CCW permit and desired to carry at work. The wrong thing to do, but it was very entertaining to watch them sweat, stammer, and roast in their fear…
By George on Jul 7, 2010
With this new rule does National Park fall under the Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground or Duty to Retreat?
By David Baker on Jul 8, 2010
@ David Baker – Self-defense law in the parks will still be whatever it is in the state the park is in. No change there.
By John on Jul 8, 2010
Oh wow………. you look exactly like Glenn Beck in that picture. Thats…. wow…
By Andrew on Jul 8, 2010