Guns in national parks… NOW LEGAL!

I agree with Todd that Jesse did nothing wrong. I disagree with Jesse that William was bashing him, William simply expressed an opinion, and was as civil and reasonable in his opinion as Jesse was in his post. I see no bashing, or perhaps I just have a much higher tolerance for disagreement.

I do think, however, that giving 'now legal' the ALL CAPS treatment could, I SAID COULD, be construed by some as rather inflammatory, and I think that part of the title was unfortunate and unnecessary.

I've been carrying a handgun since the age of 18. I'm now 27. I've pulled my gun on someone one time in that time period thinking I was going to have to shoot. Lucky for me, at the sight of a gun he ran.

I have no intention of killing anyone, and I don't want to. However, I would do what I had to do to stop any threat. I would certainly not randomly shoot into the darkness or shoot at anything for that matter without knowing exactly what I was shooting at first.

+1 for the fact that people have been carrying concealed before this law anyway. +1 for the fact that most of you have camped with people with guns already without knowing.

I carry a Glock polymer handgun. It's the UL version of a handgun. ;)

I for one am happy with this decision. Not that I needed a law to tell me I can do it. The 2nd amendment gives me the right. I carry a gun wherever I want knowing that. If I have to fight it in court… so be it. At least i'll be alive in a worst case scenario.

Cheers.

How come all (or maybe most?) of the people on this forum carrying handguns don't list them in their gear lists and base weight?

I honestly don't care if somebody legally carries, but I do chuckle about the "just in case at least I'll have it" argument, when if that argument was applied to any other single piece of gear on this forum people would be super critical.

I don't carry mine in my pack… thus it's not added to my base weight. Now that you mention it though, I should add it to my list. I'm not ashamed.

I can improvise just about anything in the woods if need be. However, the one thing I just can't do is make a gun pop out of mid air. I'm no MacGyver. ;)

I had broccoli and asparagus for dinner! Hah! So there!

I had Macaroni and cheese!

I had broccoli and asparagus for dinner! Hah! So there!

I had Macaroni and cheese!

I had a hamburger on Ezekiel bread with onions, ketchup, mustard, and a side of baked beans. It was yummy.

I go as light as I can but in the end I only go as light as I can safely and enjoyably, if I'm worried about something the trips no fun so why go? Rather than go SUL this spring in CO I threw in a bit more insulation because it made me feel better so I enjoyed the hike more. If a gun, pepper spray, warmer sleeping bag, GPS or whatever, makes you feel more comfortable than its worth it in my opinion.

how many hikers are shot in State parks?

Just to let some of you guys who are saying there aren't drug farms etc, it was just in 2008 that crystal cave was temporarily shut down do to finding a large pot farm within something like a mile of the trail. It is a real if small danger. In Sequoia…

I don't carry but support the rights of those that do.

A 1/2 mile isn't really that close, if it's brush.

That's why it needs to be legalized, to end the rogue criminal elements, but that's a whole other issue.

only in America : )

this is where it happened…

H.R.627 – Credit CARD Act of 2009
was enacted May 22, 2009 and became effective February 22, 2010.

Broadly, this bill seeks to establish transparency between all actors participating in the consumer credit market. More specifically, it seeks to restrict unfair interest rate hikes, fees and penalties. It also bans credit card companies from knowingly issuing cards to people under the age of 18. Furthermore, it calls for the broad dissemination of information by creditors to the public regarding changes and developments in credit card accounts, methods of contact, and credit counseling services, and by the Federal Reserve Board to Congress and the public, alike, regarding the general health of the consumer credit market.

Section 512 of this law; Protecting Americans from Violent Crimes, supersedes the uniform treatment of firearm possession in the national park system outside Alaska under the regulations found at 36 C.F.R. 2.4.

(Sec. 512)

Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm, including an assembled or functional firearm, in any unit of the National Park System (NPS) or the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) if:
(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and
(2) the possession of the firearm complies with the law of the state in which the NPS or NWRS unit is located.

This isn’t just about carrying concealed handguns. In Southeast Alaska the new law now allows us to carry shotguns in Glacier Bay National Park. We kayak throughout the Inside Passage and most often bring with us a short barreled 12 gauge shotgun with a pistol grip – it isn’t light, but is as light as it can be given its purpose – for bear protection. The only place in our region that prohibited guns was Glacier Bay NP. Now we can drop in to the park on our way to the outer coast without breaking the law. There is no change in the prohibition on hunting in Glacier Bay, so it isn’t clear what happens following a bear encounter.

All of the rangers in Glacier Bay carry a side arm for people and a shotgun for bears; I’ll be happy to leave my sidearm in my sock drawer.

I wonder how this will effect laws governing pepper spray?
Some places in CA do not allow it and so I would guess this
would apply still in NP's?

No pepper spray in some parts of California? What a stupidly governed state.

EDIT – For a more PC statement. :D

> No pepper spray in some parts of California? What a stupidly governed state.

At least we don't have to live in Georgia.

:)

Well yeah, what do you expect out of a legislature that just passed a resolution to make next month a no cussing month instead of fixing a budget that's been broken for years?

No pepper spray in some parts of California? What a stupidly governed state.

:)

No one has to live anywhere. Especially me. I wasn't putting the State of California down. I just don't agree with it's political standing. Show some respect.

> No pepper spray in some parts of California? What a stupidly governed state.

Perhaps the point is that it seems you don't know the laws regarding it, but wade right into California bashing. Even if the specific law(s) regarding one specific item in the entire state doesn't make sense to you, why say it is a "stupidly governed state"?

Show some respect!

p.s. Also, in a nod to Dean and Travis, it's "its" not "it's".)

p.p.s. Guns guns guns. Can't make it through a fortnight without yet another gun gun gun thread.

I appreciate the thought, Dave. :o)

I'll otherwise stay out of this one.

Your totally welcome! There's nothing I like more then using grammar correctly.

"Theres nothing I like more then using grammer correctly."

I believe you meant: Theres nothing I like more better then using grammer rightly.

> Your totally welcome! There's nothing I like more then using grammar correctly.

That should be '.. more than …'

Cheers

A new one is born every minute.

Awww, Dave. You read our little exchange! I'm touched.

"Your totally welcome! There's nothing I like more then using grammar correctly."

That should be "You're" as a contraction. Not "Your" as a possessive pronoun.

Didn't anybody ever learn the King's English?
–B.G.–