Someone Open Carried All Weekend

[hawk84]

From about 8 am yesterday morning, till sunset today. I was walking thru the National Forest Open Carrying (unloaded of course)

I don't know how many people saw this when I had the full pack on, but from about 9am this morning to 4pm I was packless on the way up to San Gorgonio. Must have come in contact with about 60 people over all, and 40 of them were at the peak. There was a troop of about 20 boy scouts alone.

Noone said a word. I saw some eyes wander but that was it. One of the leaders of the boy scout troop talked to me for a bit, seemed he was trying to get a feel for who I was and what I was doing, "Just enjoying the fresh air"

Came across some volunteer search and rescue too

Chaos didn't ensue, infact nothing happened at all. Just a nice pleasant overnight trip

Here we are at the peak

[JDay]

Why unloaded? Its 100% legal to carry a loaded firearm in the national forest. I do it just about every time I go camping in the woods.

[hawk84]

I was under the impression that it was still illegal to discharge in a national forest unless it was an "emergency" or "taking of legal game"

illegal to discharge would make it a prohibited place and not legal to carry loaded. Am I mistaken?


It was loaded while I was at my established campsite, unloaded otherwise

[bill104]

Dude you gus all need hair cuts.

[JohnBrian]

I was under the impression that it was still illegal to discharge in a national forest unless it was an "emergency" or "taking of legal game"

illegal to discharge would make it a prohibited place and not legal to carry loaded. Am I mistaken?


It was loaded while I was at my established campsite, unloaded otherwise

IIRC, you can't discharge a firearm within a certain distance (don't recall what) of a campground or other facility or over a watercourse (lake, river, etc) except in the event of an emergency.

It's legal to openly carry a loaded firearm within a National Forest regardless of whether your hunting or not.

Of course, use a bit of discretion! Don't walk into a visitors center or gift shop or Ranger station carring a firearm (loaded or otherwise), the sheep & the Rangers/other employees might become a bit nervous!

"An unloaded gun is just an expensive club." -- Me

[CitaDeL]

"An unloaded gun is just an expensive club." -- Me

"An unloaded gun is a weapon that can be loaded for lethal force in just a couple of seconds" -CitaDeL-

And you're partially right about entering visitors centers, as that would be a 171(b) (public building) violation.

[Jonathan Doe]

What good does an unloaded firearm do when you need one?

[Danield]

You guys have funny faces. Like that movie Mask.

[Diabolus]

I carry loaded on the way up San Gorgonio all the time. You don't have to worry!

[hawk84]

could someone point me to the specific ordinance that says its legal to discharge in a national forest/wilderness


otherwise the way i read it you are guilty of carrying loaded weapon "in any public place or on any public street in a prohibited area of unincorporated territory" --12031(a)(1)

then way down at 12031(f) As used in this section, "prohibited area" means any place where it is unlawful to discharge a weapon"

[M1A Rifleman]

The way I read it is the "public place" rule is a gray, and can get you in trouble. A trail populated with 60 people - regardless of where it is within the forrest could be called a "public place" - where carrying loaded could be prohibited. The visitors center and walking around the camp ground would also be public areas. Your camp site is not a public area, and concealed within the boundaries of your site would not be a problem.

[hawk84]

on the one hand, one needs a permit to go into the wilderness, which makes it seem like it isn't public


but on the other hand, it sure as hell isn't private, infact, it is national forest belonging to everyone in the country equally, and you can't get much more public then that(even if there are very few people)

and 12031 (l) states
"nothing in this section shall prevent any person from having a loaded weapon, if it is otherwise lawful, at his or her place of residence, including any temporary residence or campsite"

[Diabolus]

Call the Ranger station and they'll tell you it's OK to carry going up San Gorgonio.

[hnoppenberger]

dude. i do the same thing, with a loaded pistol and rifle. all the time. its called hunting. oh and the said pistol, its concealed.

[JDay]

I was under the impression that it was still illegal to discharge in a national forest unless it was an "emergency" or "taking of legal game"

illegal to discharge would make it a prohibited place and not legal to carry loaded. Am I mistaken?


It was loaded while I was at my established campsite, unloaded otherwise

You're confusing National Parks with the National Forests.