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National Parks are supervised and regulated by the National Park Service, an agency of the US Department of the Interior. There are 61 national parks in the United States and most of them are protected areas. Yellowstone National Park, which was created in 1872 through a law signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, is the US’s first national park and possibly the first national park in the world. National parks are some of the US’s most beloved and valued attractions due to their breathtaking scenery and the beauty of their wildlife.
Even though national parks are protected areas there is always a chance of danger when out in the wild. You might accidentally cross paths with an enraged bear. Maybe a mother with new offspring takes offense at your presence. This is one reason that sum gun owners are interested in learning how to concealed carry in national parks. Carrying a concealed weapon in a protected area like a national park makes sense because some situations may call for you to use a firearm as a line of last defense. In this article, we’ll help you gain a better understanding of a national parks concealed carry.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONCEALED CARRY IN NATIONAL PARKS
The debate on whether or not to allow concealed carrying in national parks came was at the forefront of gun rights advocates’ minds in early 2006 when the National Parks Service recorded 11 deaths in various national parks in the United States. The National Rifle Association, one of the main supporters of allowing concealed carrying of weapons in national parks, believes that the problem is not whether or not concealed carriers will be responsible. It is the NRA’s stance that accidents are bound to happen in parks and that people should be allowed the means to protect themselves.
Between 1960 and 2009 guns in national parks were largely confined for hunting use under special permits or kept locked in vehicles that were passing through. National forests may have different laws than those of parks but by and large national parks were areas where carrying weapons was simply not allowed. In 2009, a provision was added to an unrelated bill to allow park visitors to address issues on how to concealed carry in national parks. Section 512 of the Credit CARD (Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure) Act entitled ‘Protecting Americans From Violent Crimes,’ was designed to override a previous federal court decision that prohibited the carrying of firearms in national parks.
Follow State Laws
When it comes to a national parks concealed carry, it can be a little tricky to speak about the specific laws of each park. This is because many national parks are located in more than one state. When this happens, you’ll need to be aware of your location and you must follow the law of the state in which you are physically located. For example, some of Yosemite National Park is located in Nevada but most of the park is located in California. If you want to carry a weapon in the park but only have a license to do so valid in Nevada, you can only carry in the Nevada section of the park. On the other hand, if you only have a license valid in California, you can only carry in the California section of the park.
The same is true for Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone runs through the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Be sure to follow all applicable laws in the state where you are physically located to avoid any trouble.
Follow National Park Gun Regulations
Aside from state laws, you should also always follow applicable national park gun regulations. Just because you are in the woods does not mean you are free to shoot whenever you want. Target practice is generally banned and hunting is illegal in most national parks except under special permits. Remember that a violation of these rules will give anti-gun advocates an excuse to justify gun control legislation. Keep in mind that laws and regulations on shooting in national forests and parks are designed to ensure safety for everyone.
States Can Prohibit Guns in Their National Parks
With the passing of the Credit CARD Act of 2009, states were given the authority to allow or prohibit concealed carrying in national parks, so you’ll still need to research state laws before concealed carrying in a national park. As a responsible carrier, it is your job to first research state gun laws. Here is an easy-to-read list of the states and their policies with regard to concealed carrying in national parks.
Specific Guns Could Be Prohibited
States reserve the right to limit which types of firearms are permitted in their parks. They may also set some limitations on magazine capacity.
Concealed Carry Permit May Be Required
States may also require a valid and recognized permit in order to concealed carry either on your person or in your vehicle.
Carrying May Be Prohibited on Public Utility Vehicles
If you are carrying a weapon, riding or using public transportation within a park may be prohibited by the state where the national park is located. This could include shuttle buses, ferries, and boats, among other types of transportation.
Hunting Is Illegal in Most National Parks Except Under Special Permits
Generally, discharging firearms is strictly prohibited unless you have a special permit or license. Any form of hunting is illegal except with special permits. Please do your research to make sure you have the correct permits before firing at any wildlife.
Guns Cannot Be Carried into Federal Buildings
When discussing how to concealed carry in national parks, it’s important to mention that carrying guns into federally owned buildings is strictly prohibited. Buildings inside national parks are generally federally owned though they might not all be. Notices will be posted on any building where carrying firearms is prohibited.
No Target Practice Allowed
It’s as simple as that. Target practice is not allowed in national parks. Please be mindful of this regulation.
No Other Weapons Allowed
While firearms have become legal to carry in national parks in some states, please note that other types of weapons such as bows, swords, and BB guns are still prohibited.
CRITICISMS AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEW LAW
While the major legislation to consider these days is the Credit Card CARD Act of 2009, certain attempts to allow carrying in parks have been attempted over the years. Below we’ll look at the arguments for and against this legislation and give you a little bit of background to the debate.
The Need for Change
One of the arguments for concealed carrying in national parks is a perceived lack of security. Some people are worried by the remoteness and lack of law enforcement officers in national parks. Additionally, some parks have been known to house illegal marijuana growing operations and smuggling is known to have occurred in national parks which lie along international borders. Many gun rights advocates believe carrying in parks is a matter of safety.
In 2009 the sudden change of restrictions on how to concealed carry in national parks was met with a good deal of criticism, including a lawsuit. This lawsuit claimed that the new rule was improperly enacted because an environmental impact study was not carried out before its implementation.
National parks concealed carry is currently allowed in all but 20 of the 392 locations operated by the National Parks Services. Note that even with the easing of restrictions for general carrying in parks, guns will still be prohibited in visitor centers and rangers’ offices as well as any other federal buildings. Other areas could be off-bounds for carrying as well, depending on the laws of the state that the park lies within.
Criticisms of the New law
Critics of the new law say that its enactment hurts the reputation of national parks, which have always been considered safe, natural sanctuaries. One of the critics of the new law was Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He said that allowing concealed carrying in national parks is a symptom of a paranoid society. He says now when you’re out camping and you find yourself next to a big, rowdy group you won’t just have to wait around until they quiet down, you’ll have to actively worry about whether or not they’ll start shooting.
Other critics like Bill Wade, President of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, called the enactment of the new law a sad chapter in the history of the park system. In Wade’s view, people go to national parks to get away from things and he fears that this dynamic will change with the new law. Bryan Faehner, Associate Director of the National Parks Conservation Association, believes that the new law places an unfair burden on park service employees as they will now have to determine whether visitors are breaking not only national, but state law as well.
Support for the Law
Meanwhile, supporters of the new law on how to concealed carry in national parks scoff at claims that national parks will become more dangerous. One of the supporters of this law is the National Rifle Association. The NRA says that the new law will not only enhance self-defense rights of law-abiding citizens but will also ensure the uniformity of firearms laws within states. In 2008, the year before the Credit CARD Act legalized carrying in national parks there were 3,760 major crimes, including 5 homicides and 37 rapes, as reported by the National Park Service.
Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who spearheaded congressional efforts to change the law, said that concerns about a possible increase in violence were overblown. According to Coburn, there is no major change in the new law except a restoration of the Second Amendment rights formerly taken away by bureaucrats.
CARRYING YOUR FIREARMS IN NATIONAL PARKS
The new law on how to concealed carry in national parks took effect February 2010 and was signed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Under the new law, gun owners can concealed carry in nearly every national park including iconic parks such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Obama-era National Parks Gun Law overturns a long ban on carrying loaded weapons on Federal park grounds. Under the new law, national parks concealed carry, open carry, and loaded weapons are no longer prohibited (if not prohibited by the state the park is within). Exceptions to this new norm include continuing prohibitions against carrying inside federal buildings and carrying in any area prohibited by state law, such as, in some states, on public transportation.
Hunting is still only allowed under special permit. In order to preserve our wildlife, carry additional self-defense options, such as bear spray, for self-defense against wild animals. Remember, concealed carrying in national parks assumes some form of individual responsibility. It is best to carry your weapon inside a holster or a concealed carry jacket as state laws regulating carrying will still apply.
Note that it is lawful to protect yourself from any animal if you can prove that it was in self-defense. This is even mentioned in the Endangered Species Act. Many people consider this possibility when learning how to concealed carry in national parks, but, as stated above, great, useful options such as bear spray are on the market for preserving human and animal life.
Restrictions of the New Law
While the new law removes some regulations on firearms, there are still many restrictions you need to be aware of when learning how to concealed carry in national parks:
Guns can only be fired in rare circumstances. Hunting is illegal except under special permits. Target practice is also banned.
For national security reasons, guns cannot be carried into federal facilities within national parks. This will be clearly displayed outside the facilities. If unsure whether a building is a federal facility, look for a sign or ask a park ranger.
If you can carry a firearm legally according to the laws of the state in which a park is located, you can generally carry them in that park.
A permit is required to carry concealed weapons. Some permits are recognized in multiple states but many are not. It is the responsibility of the owner to know and understand applicable laws.
Not all guns are legal. Revolvers, shotguns, and semiautomatic firearms are legal but fully automatic guns may not be depending on the state.
It is prohibited in most states to carry a gun while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
National parks are located in more than one state so the laws on concealed carrying may change depending on your location. Check the state laws of the state that you are in.
What are your thoughts about the new regulations on concealed carrying in parks? Share them with us in the comments section below!
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How to Concealed Carry in National Parks: Park Concealed Carry
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
National Parks are supervised and regulated by the National Park Service, an agency of the US Department of the Interior. There are 61 national parks in the United States and most of them are protected areas. Yellowstone National Park, which was created in 1872 through a law signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, is the US’s first national park and possibly the first national park in the world. National parks are some of the US’s most beloved and valued attractions due to their breathtaking scenery and the beauty of their wildlife.
Even though national parks are protected areas there is always a chance of danger when out in the wild. You might accidentally cross paths with an enraged bear. Maybe a mother with new offspring takes offense at your presence. This is one reason that sum gun owners are interested in learning how to concealed carry in national parks. Carrying a concealed weapon in a protected area like a national park makes sense because some situations may call for you to use a firearm as a line of last defense. In this article, we’ll help you gain a better understanding of a national parks concealed carry.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONCEALED CARRY IN NATIONAL PARKS
The debate on whether or not to allow concealed carrying in national parks came was at the forefront of gun rights advocates’ minds in early 2006 when the National Parks Service recorded 11 deaths in various national parks in the United States. The National Rifle Association, one of the main supporters of allowing concealed carrying of weapons in national parks, believes that the problem is not whether or not concealed carriers will be responsible. It is the NRA’s stance that accidents are bound to happen in parks and that people should be allowed the means to protect themselves.
Between 1960 and 2009 guns in national parks were largely confined for hunting use under special permits or kept locked in vehicles that were passing through. National forests may have different laws than those of parks but by and large national parks were areas where carrying weapons was simply not allowed. In 2009, a provision was added to an unrelated bill to allow park visitors to address issues on how to concealed carry in national parks. Section 512 of the Credit CARD (Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure) Act entitled ‘Protecting Americans From Violent Crimes,’ was designed to override a previous federal court decision that prohibited the carrying of firearms in national parks.
Follow State Laws
When it comes to a national parks concealed carry, it can be a little tricky to speak about the specific laws of each park. This is because many national parks are located in more than one state. When this happens, you’ll need to be aware of your location and you must follow the law of the state in which you are physically located. For example, some of Yosemite National Park is located in Nevada but most of the park is located in California. If you want to carry a weapon in the park but only have a license to do so valid in Nevada, you can only carry in the Nevada section of the park. On the other hand, if you only have a license valid in California, you can only carry in the California section of the park.
The same is true for Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone runs through the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Be sure to follow all applicable laws in the state where you are physically located to avoid any trouble.
Follow National Park Gun Regulations
Aside from state laws, you should also always follow applicable national park gun regulations. Just because you are in the woods does not mean you are free to shoot whenever you want. Target practice is generally banned and hunting is illegal in most national parks except under special permits. Remember that a violation of these rules will give anti-gun advocates an excuse to justify gun control legislation. Keep in mind that laws and regulations on shooting in national forests and parks are designed to ensure safety for everyone.
States Can Prohibit Guns in Their National Parks
With the passing of the Credit CARD Act of 2009, states were given the authority to allow or prohibit concealed carrying in national parks, so you’ll still need to research state laws before concealed carrying in a national park. As a responsible carrier, it is your job to first research state gun laws. Here is an easy-to-read list of the states and their policies with regard to concealed carrying in national parks.
Specific Guns Could Be Prohibited
States reserve the right to limit which types of firearms are permitted in their parks. They may also set some limitations on magazine capacity.
Concealed Carry Permit May Be Required
States may also require a valid and recognized permit in order to concealed carry either on your person or in your vehicle.
Carrying May Be Prohibited on Public Utility Vehicles
If you are carrying a weapon, riding or using public transportation within a park may be prohibited by the state where the national park is located. This could include shuttle buses, ferries, and boats, among other types of transportation.
Hunting Is Illegal in Most National Parks Except Under Special Permits
Generally, discharging firearms is strictly prohibited unless you have a special permit or license. Any form of hunting is illegal except with special permits. Please do your research to make sure you have the correct permits before firing at any wildlife.
Guns Cannot Be Carried into Federal Buildings
When discussing how to concealed carry in national parks, it’s important to mention that carrying guns into federally owned buildings is strictly prohibited. Buildings inside national parks are generally federally owned though they might not all be. Notices will be posted on any building where carrying firearms is prohibited.
No Target Practice Allowed
It’s as simple as that. Target practice is not allowed in national parks. Please be mindful of this regulation.
No Other Weapons Allowed
While firearms have become legal to carry in national parks in some states, please note that other types of weapons such as bows, swords, and BB guns are still prohibited.
CRITICISMS AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEW LAW
While the major legislation to consider these days is the Credit Card CARD Act of 2009, certain attempts to allow carrying in parks have been attempted over the years. Below we’ll look at the arguments for and against this legislation and give you a little bit of background to the debate.
The Need for Change
One of the arguments for concealed carrying in national parks is a perceived lack of security. Some people are worried by the remoteness and lack of law enforcement officers in national parks. Additionally, some parks have been known to house illegal marijuana growing operations and smuggling is known to have occurred in national parks which lie along international borders. Many gun rights advocates believe carrying in parks is a matter of safety.
In 2009 the sudden change of restrictions on how to concealed carry in national parks was met with a good deal of criticism, including a lawsuit. This lawsuit claimed that the new rule was improperly enacted because an environmental impact study was not carried out before its implementation.
National parks concealed carry is currently allowed in all but 20 of the 392 locations operated by the National Parks Services. Note that even with the easing of restrictions for general carrying in parks, guns will still be prohibited in visitor centers and rangers’ offices as well as any other federal buildings. Other areas could be off-bounds for carrying as well, depending on the laws of the state that the park lies within.
Criticisms of the New law
Critics of the new law say that its enactment hurts the reputation of national parks, which have always been considered safe, natural sanctuaries. One of the critics of the new law was Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He said that allowing concealed carrying in national parks is a symptom of a paranoid society. He says now when you’re out camping and you find yourself next to a big, rowdy group you won’t just have to wait around until they quiet down, you’ll have to actively worry about whether or not they’ll start shooting.
Other critics like Bill Wade, President of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, called the enactment of the new law a sad chapter in the history of the park system. In Wade’s view, people go to national parks to get away from things and he fears that this dynamic will change with the new law. Bryan Faehner, Associate Director of the National Parks Conservation Association, believes that the new law places an unfair burden on park service employees as they will now have to determine whether visitors are breaking not only national, but state law as well.
Support for the Law
Meanwhile, supporters of the new law on how to concealed carry in national parks scoff at claims that national parks will become more dangerous. One of the supporters of this law is the National Rifle Association. The NRA says that the new law will not only enhance self-defense rights of law-abiding citizens but will also ensure the uniformity of firearms laws within states. In 2008, the year before the Credit CARD Act legalized carrying in national parks there were 3,760 major crimes, including 5 homicides and 37 rapes, as reported by the National Park Service.
Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who spearheaded congressional efforts to change the law, said that concerns about a possible increase in violence were overblown. According to Coburn, there is no major change in the new law except a restoration of the Second Amendment rights formerly taken away by bureaucrats.
CARRYING YOUR FIREARMS IN NATIONAL PARKS
The new law on how to concealed carry in national parks took effect February 2010 and was signed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Under the new law, gun owners can concealed carry in nearly every national park including iconic parks such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Obama-era National Parks Gun Law overturns a long ban on carrying loaded weapons on Federal park grounds. Under the new law, national parks concealed carry, open carry, and loaded weapons are no longer prohibited (if not prohibited by the state the park is within). Exceptions to this new norm include continuing prohibitions against carrying inside federal buildings and carrying in any area prohibited by state law, such as, in some states, on public transportation.
Hunting is still only allowed under special permit. In order to preserve our wildlife, carry additional self-defense options, such as bear spray, for self-defense against wild animals. Remember, concealed carrying in national parks assumes some form of individual responsibility. It is best to carry your weapon inside a holster or a concealed carry jacket as state laws regulating carrying will still apply.
Note that it is lawful to protect yourself from any animal if you can prove that it was in self-defense. This is even mentioned in the Endangered Species Act. Many people consider this possibility when learning how to concealed carry in national parks, but, as stated above, great, useful options such as bear spray are on the market for preserving human and animal life.
Restrictions of the New Law
While the new law removes some regulations on firearms, there are still many restrictions you need to be aware of when learning how to concealed carry in national parks:
What are your thoughts about the new regulations on concealed carrying in parks? Share them with us in the comments section below!