Backpacking Yellowstone with a gun: open or concealed carry?

[txhoghunter]

I would say concealed, just because there more than likely will be people there that would be uncomfortable seeing a firearm on their vacation. It's not that they will be anti-gun, just that if carrying concealed gives you peace-of-mind and it keeps them from being uncomfortable, I see it as a win-win.

just my .02

 

[phoglund]

Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoLT1
If you drive into Idaho, open carry is legal everywhere with no permit, even for non residents. Conceal carry is legal without a permit outside of city limits, even for non residents. Idaho is one of the few States that reciprocates with all States concealed weapon licenses.

Quote:
Wow, is there any other state this free?

Montana is essentially the same less the reciprocity with all state's CCW licenses.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I would say concealed, just because there more than likely will be people there that would be uncomfortable seeing a firearm on their vacation. It's not that they will be anti-gun, just that if carrying concealed gives you peace-of-mind and it keeps them from being uncomfortable, I see it as a win-win.

It's too bad that the sight of an American exercising their right to self-protection causes some people to be uncomfortable.

We have zero chance of changing that if the only image the public sees of guns is the image pushed at them by the Brady Campaign, other anti-gun groups and the anti-gun media.

While the sight of an normal American doing normal activities who just happens to have enough concern for their own safety and the safety of their families to carry a gun may not win everyone over, it certainly will contribute to counter the negative images shown by the anti-gun groups. A concealed handgun does nothing to counter those negative images.

 

[LWYM425]

OP,
If you're still on the fence; just do it. Open carrying is not as bad as people say it is. I'm sure there are people out there that "had a bad experience" but I highly doubt that will happen to you at Yellowstone. Its the PERFECT place to give OC-ing a try and get comfortable doing it. You'll find that the only person that is really worried about the gun on your hip is you. Only thing you have to remember is to not bring it in buildings... no biggie.
Plus, some one mentioned earlier in the thread about foreigners seeing Americans with guns and how we shouldn't worry about conforming our cultural behavior to be "better accepted" by others... Totally agree. In fact, I am ashamed that I almost opted not to. Having done it has given me valuable practice OC-ing that I don't get in urban settings. Its a whole lot easier for me to OC on a trail in the woods then it is going to buy some chew at the gas station.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I'm sure there are people out there that "had a bad experience" but I highly doubt that will happen to you at Yellowstone.

Those of us that have had a "bad experience" understand the need to change the perception.

 

[Magoo]

It never fails to amaze me that a lot of people think that the animals are tame or "know" you mean them no harm because they're in a national park

My second season waiting tables out there- one afternoon there was a buffalo grazing just outside the dining room window. A lady at my table asked if it was okay for her kids to step outside and pet the buff, assuming it must be a tame one hanging out so close . I can't remember my exact response, but my tip might not have been so good on that table.

My roommate my first season out there was gored by a buff (long story, not his fault at all). They are FAST over short distances.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I've been to Yellowstone a couple times, last time I was there about three years ago, drove by a scene where tourists were trying to push up on several buffalo to get 10-15 foot distance kind of close up pictures. What I saw were four or five people with cameras, totally focused on a couple of bison in front of them and seemingly oblivious to the fact that they'd split this little herd and had several kind of distressed looking animals at their backs as well.

And a park ranger with an M14 or M1A skedaddling towards this disaster in the making at high speed to hopefully head off the stupid that was about to occur.

 

[MisterMike]

Without getting all dramatic about it, you need to remember that the average grizzly is faster than the quickest human being. If you feel the need to carry, the only viable choice is to have your pistol as readily available as you can.

Having said that, most unfortunate encounters with bears--as with humans--come as the result of making one or more bad decisions. You should first read and heed all the fine advice that's available as to how to avoid bears. If you do end up with one charging you, my personal opinion--based only on reading and not on having been in the situation--is that a big honkin' canister of bear spray is a more reliable means of stopping an attack. If you go to your gun first, you had better be accurate . . . very accurate . . . or you may find yourself being pooped out of the bear's gut a day or two later.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If someone says, "Seeing that gun makes me uncomfortable," a good response would be, "If seeing me exercise a Constitutional right makes you uncomfortable, then seeing you vote makes me uncomfortable."

 

[Iron Sight]

Originally Posted by Iron Sight
sohcgt2

Thank you for actually posting the law as it is printed.

Navy Lt

"He did not post any laws. "

Welllllll..........Read the Link post no 47

Pretty Clear to me?

 

[NavyLCDR]

My bad. There are links to the law there.

 

[TexasRifleman]

As nearly always happens a simple legal question involving open carry descends into a debate between gun owners about whether it's good or bad, ignoring the discussion of whether it's legal or not.

This is part of the reason we have so much trouble making progress, we can't even agree to be on the same side a lot of the time.