PA no carry law

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tkaction

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Others have posted here that Pennsylvania does not allow carry in state parks...That is not true. In fact they encourage hunting and carrying loaded firearms "ready for use" in most of the parks. If you have a carry permit you may
carry (concealed)in any park area. I have just reviewed each individual park and have found no regulations by the DCNR that forbids by law or regulation. Open carry is another issue.
 
Concealed Carry with a Valid Permit/License to Carry is allowed in PA State Parks and State/National Forests. I am not sure about Open Carry being allowed but I am positive Concealed Carry is Allowed in those areas with a valid Permit/License.

I do know that the Fish Commission posts their launch areas with their rules and it specifically states that concealed carry is legal with a valid Permit/License in their rules. The State Parks most likely post similar rules that say no firearms unless you have a valid permit to carry.
 
Some wise guy on another forum posted this:

Gary Slider said:
The Governor of PA has signed HB1845 which will go into effect in 60 days and allow carry in PA State Parks. 60 days means that 12/17/08 carry will be legal in PA State Parks.
Click to expand...

Before that, I believe it was a summary offense to violate the State Park rules against carry, but that's been a moot point for almost three years now.
 
Sam1911, I knew they passed a law to allow carry in Parks. Time flies. I thought it was only about 18 months ago. I did a quick look at my notes and didn't see it so just posted that I knew it was legal. I spend a lot of time in PA as my Wife's family is from there and spend a ton of time on the Allegheny at East Brady.
 
I've seen park regulation signs that still have a no weapons clause listed way down in the fine print, but only old ones that look faded enough to have been there many years.

We don't get as far west as the Allegheny that often, but we do spent a LOT of time in the many awesome PA state parks.
 
What is interesting is I have the pa firearms handbook with the entire firearms section from 1997 and it does not list state parks as a prohibited area. I dont remember a change in the law between then and 2008 and then back again..
I am going to research it, but I dont believe that it was ever a no go.
interesting....
 
The DCNR had a regulation against carry in a state park. It was a summary offense. As such it was not a firearm violation but a breaking of park rules which is why the firearm law had no mention of it. It was probably in violation of the state preemption law if somebody had wanted to challenge it.
Tim
 
I can't access the bill as it was passed in 2008. But here is what the NRA reported on it at
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=4211

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Important Pro-Gun Bill into Law!

Friday, October 17, 2008


Today, Friday, October 17, Governor Ed Rendell (D) signed House Bill 1845 into effect. HB1845 is an omnibus legislative package that contains a number of pro-gun provisions for Pennsylvania gun owners. Among the provisions was an “Emergency Powers” reform measure prohibiting any government agency from confiscating firearms during a state of emergency, such as occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Other important provisions include:

* establishing the lawful carry of a concealed firearm in state parks;
* funding for the acclaimed “Don’t Lie For The Other Guy” program administered by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF); and,
* an emergency permitting system for concealed carry licenses for individuals who are under immediate threat.

Thank you to all of the NRA members who took action in support of this important legislation. Without you, this victory would not have been possible.
 
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