Difference in National Park Laws???

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waynesan

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Difference in National Park Rules?

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I have been under the impression that if one is transporting a gun through a National Park you are OK to lock up your unloaded weapon in the trunk or out of reach and lock up the ammo in a different location. I know several Parks have this as their "rules" spelled out on their websites. And this is what I have always done with my handguns when visiting a National Park while traveling.
However, this morning I was reading from the Smokey Mountains website and they simply state "no firearms allowed".
My question is: Are there different rules for different Parks? Or is the general rule that I have always obeyed superceeded by an individual Park's stricter rules? If so, this ought not to be.

Since the Smokey Mountain National Park website says "no firearms allowed" I was curious and found this at the Yellowstone National Park website:

No firearms or weapons, including state-permitted concealed weapons, are allowed in Yellowstone. However, unloaded firearms may be transported in a vehicle when the weapon is cased, broken down, or rendered inoperable, and kept out of sight. Ammunition must be placed in a separate compartment of the vehicle.
Click to expand...

Based just on the posted rules for the two Parks, there is a big difference. I just wasn't aware of different rules for different National Parks. Anybody have any info on this?
 
It sounds to me like the SMNP site is misrepresenting the law. I checked another NPS site (which happened to be the Booker T. Washington National Monument) and it said the same thing - simply that "All weapons are prohibited in the Park". But the federal law says:

"Traps, nets and unloaded weapons may be possessed within a temporary lodging or mechanical mode of conveyance when such implements are rendered temporarily inoperable or are packed, cased or stored in a manner that will prevent their ready use."

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...:1.0.1.1.2;idno=36;cc=ecfr#36:1.0.1.1.2.0.1.4
 
Thanks for that link hugh. I think you're right that some parks are misrepresenting the law.
 
This is a known issue

An issue that quite a few people have been trying to get addressed.

Last year VCDL's petition to amend this regulation was denied, and getting the data used to reach the decision has been like dealing with a spoiled brat child. We're close and so far the information they have disclosed is pretty silly. We had 4 dozen co-petitioners and about a million members represented. I wish just ten percent had taken just a few minutes to call their Reps & Senators.
 
I work as a ranger for the NPS. Our sign outside simply says No Firearms. Our website has no information.

However, unloaded firearms may be transported in a vehicle when the weapon is cased, broken down, or rendered inoperable, and kept out of sight. Ammunition must be placed in a separate compartment of the vehicle.
Click to expand...

I would follow this.
 
I contacted BATF

a similar situation. I asked the front gate of Yellowstone if I could transport my firearms per federal regulations, they stated I could not enter the park with any firearm in the vehicle.

I contacted BATF, who stated the park was incorrect and that under federal law I could transport firearms through the park in their correct configuration.

i went back and informed yellowstone front gate, who politely ignored my BATF e-mail and stated if I had a firearm under any condition i would most likely be arrested!

To put it simple, if they don't know about it, there's no issue. And if you do by chance get arrested, it would make an awesome case against the parks misrepresentation. I for one, don't want to spend the time or $$$, so i follow "don't ask, don't tell" when transporting through yellowstone...
 
I would have asked to see the highest ranking member that was available at the park on that day, and show him the copy of that law and ask him where it says all guns are prohibited?

Or better yet, document that the gun was packed correctly for the law (make a video or something), get arrested, hire a lawyer that will gladly kick their butts, and pay the lawyer with any money you get from them for "emotional distress".
 
07Lway - agreed

That's a good idea for the next time I want to pay money to a national park that is anti-firearms.

I have run into this before at a park in CA, but at that time my brother and I chose to leave and not pay for the three day stay due to the anti-firearm mentality.

My main hope is RP gets elected, as he has vowed to take on this problem head on. (In fact he has already introduced legislation regaring firearms in National parks...)
 
For parks such as Yellowstone its best to just not to say anything.

The people who work there, obviously don't know all the laws and in the case mentioned above just had a knee jerk reaction to the word GUN. Once that happened they couldn't get past the idea that guns are allowed if unloaded and cased.....but whats new about that.
I was there a few years ago there were tons of RV filled with people who obviously were now retired and lived in the RV and cruzed the country. And they think there are no firearms in those RV's? Ha! :D

Its kindof like that everywhere, you ask a question you get the wrong answer.

I don't even call stores to ask if they have something I'm looking for any more, 50% of the time I get the wrong answer. :banghead: :fire: I just go to the store and look for my self.

Same goes for asking people about what is legal. You just have to read it and find out for your self.
 
Diggers,
Like you, I think the best course of action is just to keep your mouth shut and transport anyway. It is really aggravating to be on vacation and decide to visit a NP and the first thing you see is one of those "no firearms allowed" signs.
I sure hope that in the near future this rule can be changed and make all parks legal to transport and even "carry" if you have a permit for the state in which the park is located.
 
I'm a little confused. I'm in VA. I have a resident VA CHP. I remember reading somewhere that in VA, if you are in a state park, you may not carry (open or concealed), UNLESS you have a CHP. Yet when I have visited some parks, they have signs that say NO FIREARMS. Does that mean everyone, except permit holders? Or everyone? Because I thought the law said permit holders may carry..
 
I just tried to look it up and I can't find it now. Hmm let me keep digging. Maybe I am lol.

EDIT: It says state parks here (at the bottom).

http://www.vcdl.org/static/ccw.html


When I visited a park recently, I noticed the no firearms sign. It was a national park.
 
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I was maulled by a bear in SMNP when I was 9 while eating dinner. The bears bully the campers around day and night. I would not go there again w/o my .357 or 30-06, nope no way. Bear comes near me again it's a dead bear. No wonder I live in Ks, no bears!
Oh I should tell you the only reason I got away is my dad threw a 10" rock beaning the bear in the head, then it ran off.
 
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