Firearms in Forests and Parks

[AwakeAware1016]

I went camping in stanislaus nat. Forest in the fall an I LOC all day and spoke to two rangers and they were surprised I was but did not have a problem with it. I was away from other campsites. I think it has slot to do with how you present yourself and a bi on what rangers you see.

[MudCamper]

I went camping in stanislaus nat. Forest in the fall an I LOC all day and spoke to two rangers and they were surprised I was but did not have a problem with it. I was away from other campsites. I think it has slot to do with how you present yourself and a bi on what rangers you see.

While what you say is true, that your mileage will vary depending on the individual rangers that you encounter, it is necessary to know exactly what is legal if you really want to avoid being prosecuted for something.

Actually, you should be careful with loading in Stanislaus, depending on where you are. The Emigrant Wilderness is the only wilderness in a NF that I know if that has ordered a 36 CFR 261.58 no-shooting restriction.

[MudCamper]

Some of the NPs have updated their web pages already with regard to firearms being allowed starting Monday, like Yellowstone:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/10008.htm

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm

And some haven't yet, like Yosemite:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weapons.htm

We're supposed to see a national press release from the Park Service by no later than Monday on this.

[POINTMANDDT]

Some of the NPs have updated their web pages already with regard to firearms being allowed starting Monday, like Yellowstone:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/10008.htm

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm

And some haven't yet, like Yosemite:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weapons.htm

We're supposed to see a national press release from the Park Service by no later than Monday on this.

So can we Conceal Carry (loaded and chamber round) in these parks or does it have to be visible. If it has to be visible can you keep it locked and loaded? Also, which parks do not allow this:

The rule, now a federal law, allows the carrying of concealed, loaded weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges in states where people are legally allowed to carry concealed arms. Proponents argued that the policy would give weapons owners more clear rules, and essentially allows guns in all but three of the nation's 391 parks.

Lastly, could we get some kind of chart (like the assualt weapon chart) showing us exactly where we can carry.

BTW to the OP: Thanks for the great information.

[MudCamper]

So can we Conceal Carry (loaded and chamber round) in these parks or does it have to be visible. If it has to be visible can you keep it locked and loaded? Also, which parks do not allow this:.

Whatever is legal in the state, is legal in the parks. If you have a California CCW, then you can carry concealed and loaded. Otherwise you can not. If you do not have a CCW, then UOC (unloaded open carry) is a safe (legally) way to go. LOC may be legal but it's a gray area. And all this applies to ALL the National Parks. They may not like it but they have to comply.

Lastly, could we get some kind of chart (like the assualt weapon chart) showing us exactly where we can carry.

BTW to the OP: Thanks for the great information.

I will update the first 3 posts in this thread by Monday.

[POINTMANDDT]

Whatever is legal in the state, is legal in the parks. If you have a California CCW, then you can carry concealed and loaded. Otherwise you can not. If you do not have a CCW, then UOC (unloaded open carry) is a safe (legally) way to go. LOC may be legal but it's a gray area. And all this applies to ALL the National Parks. They may not like it but they have to comply.



I will update the first 3 posts in this thread by Monday.

Just to clarify, no conceal carry in Cali parks unless you have a CCW for California. You can carry loaded open carry in the national parks though?

[MudCamper]

Just to clarify, no conceal carry in Cali parks unless you have a CCW for California.

Correct. And to be clear by "Cali Parks" we are talking specifically about National Parks in California, not California State Parks.

You can carry loaded open carry in the national parks though?

I would advise against it. It is likely that it will be interpreted that the Parks ban on "use" (i.e. shooting) will trigger 12031 "prohibited area" language, and therefore bans loading (accept in your campsite, in an emergency, and other possible obscure exceptions). There may be a glimmer of hope for LOC depending on interpretations of arcane legal documents but IMO it is unwise at the present time. Stick to UOC.

[Southwest Chuck]

Another LOC Opinion...

So Mudcamper, Does Genes Statement in post #19 give you any confidence in LOC in CA National Parks?

I would hazard to guess that at most National Parks, LOC is legal. I'm certain that in some it is not. It all depends on whether the county the land is in prohibits discharge.

LOCing where legal is certainly something everyone should feel free to do...

-Gene

I posted the same question to him that I did here and await a reply. He seems confident LOC is legal where it isn't restricted.

Your thoughts?

Edit: Gene replied and is posted below and edited for clarity.

[Southwest Chuck]

Gene came to the same conclusion as we did, MC, based on my earlier post. I also asked him:

On second look, it doesn't look like you can LOC in National Parks in California...

PC 12031 (a)(1)A person is guilty of carrying a loaded firearm when he or she carries a loaded firearm on his or her person or in a vehicle while in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city or in any public place or on any public street in a prohibited area of unincorporated territory.

...

(f)As used in this section, "prohibited area" means any place where it is unlawful to discharge a weapon.

There is a counter argument that this is a restriction only under State Law, but I don't think the counter argument is a winner.

Expletive!

-Gene

Double Expletive!

[battleship]

So as of tomorrow i can open carry, loaded in redwood national park but what about its back to back state parks like Jedediah Smith and Prairie creek they all interlock at different points on the map what then?
What about Muir woods a very populated tourist spot.

[Southwest Chuck]

So as of tomorrow i can open carry, loaded in redwood national park

I would not LOC. Only UOC for right now

On second look, it doesn't look like you can LOC in National Parks in California...

PC 12031 (a)(1)A person is guilty of carrying a loaded firearm when he or she carries a loaded firearm on his or her person or in a vehicle while in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city or in any public place or on any public street in a prohibited area of unincorporated territory.

...

(f)As used in this section, "prohibited area" means any place where it is unlawful to discharge a weapon.

There is a counter argument that this is a restriction only under State Law, but I don't think the counter argument is a winner.

Expletive!

-Gene

HERE and read from there.

[MudCamper]

Gene came to the same conclusion as we did, MC, based on my earlier post. I also asked him:

Double Expletive!

I am still not fully convinced either way. It's People v Knight that casts things in a favorable light for us. I posted here: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...6&postcount=40

So as of tomorrow i can open carry, loaded in redwood national park but what about its back to back state parks like Jedediah Smith and Prairie creek they all interlock at different points on the map what then?
What about Muir woods a very populated tourist spot.

Go back and read the first post in this thread (which I am about to update for National Parks). California State Parks are totally different than National Parks in California. Guns are not allowed in California State Parks.

[GrizzlyGuy]

Go back and read the first post in this thread (which I am about to update for National Parks). California State Parks are totally different than National Parks in California. Guns are not allowed in California State Parks.

FYI, I put info on state parks in the FAQ:

Can I have a firearm in a state park?

[MudCamper]

Some of the NPs have updated their web pages already with regard to firearms being allowed starting Monday, like Yellowstone:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/10008.htm

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm

And some haven't yet, like Yosemite:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weapons.htm

We're supposed to see a national press release from the Park Service by no later than Monday on this.

Well at least there is now a national press release:

http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=962

"New Firearms Law Takes Effect Monday - National parks now subject to state and local firearms laws"

[Darklyte27]

Because state and federal law are equal to each other, federal says we can carry, state law says it has to be unloaded open.

So if we goto yellowstone NP can we open or concealed carry loaded?