Question on GA state parks.

[dogmush]

Hi folks, I'm going camping up in north Georgia this weekend, and naturally I did a little checking on weapons laws before I traveled.

My wife and I both have FL CWP's. I hit handgunlaw.us and double checked reciprocity. Handgunlaw also gave me this:

(g) Notwithstanding Code Sections 12-3-10, 27-3-1.1, 27-3-6, and 16-12-122 through 16-12-127, any person with a valid weapons carry license may carry a weapon in all parks, historic sites, or recreational areas, as such term is defined in Code Section 12-3-10, including all publicly owned buildings located in such parks, historic sites, and recreational areas, in wildlife management areas, and on public transportation; provided, however, that a person shall not carry a handgun into a place where it is prohibited by federal law.

Ok. Good to go. Should be fine. Then last night my wife was perusing around the state park website and found, buried at the bottom of one of the reservation pages:

Weapons: Concealed firearms are not permitted on sites that are leased Federal Property. The following sites are on leased federal property: Army Corp of Engineers, Red Top Mountain, Seminole, George T. Bagby, Florence Marina, Tugaloo, Hart, Bobby Brown, Richard B. Russell, Elijah Clark, Mistletoe, U.S. Fish & Wildlife.

Tugaloo is where we are setting up our tent.

So I have a couple questions for folks in the know. Is this a law? (as in prohibited by federal law as mentioned in the above statute) Is it a left over rule from when there was a National Parks ban? Is it just a policy/rule? And what do you think they mean by "concealed firearm"? In the car, or on a belt? I did call the park number, but the person that answered the phone was unclear on their own rules.

 

[janedoedad]

http://www.georgiapacking.org/law.php

Georgia Firearm Laws in Plain English:

State parks, historic sites, and recreational areas: Except for those with a valid license to carry when carrying a handgun (as defined at the top of this page), it is against the law in Georgia to carry or attempt to carry a deadly weapon onto a park, historic site, or recreational area. The term 'park, historic site, or recreational area' means a park, historic site, or recreational area which is operated by or for and is under the custody and control of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Without a valid license to carry when carrying a handgun (as defined at the top of this page) it is unlawful for any person to use or possess in any park, historic site, or recreational area any firearms (with a WCL/GFL it is also legal to carry that handgun into buildings on the property). It is unlawful to carry onto park, historic site or recreational area property, bows and arrows, spring guns, air rifles, slingshots, or any other device which discharges projectiles by any means (unless it is handgun and you have a WCL/GFL), unless the device is unloaded and stored so as not to be readily accessible or unless such use has been approved within restricted areas by prior written permission of the commissioner of natural resources or his authorized representative. It shall be unlawful to refuse to leave a park, historic site, or recreational area after violating any law or regulation of the Board of Natural Resources promulgated pursuant to Code Section 12-3-9 and after being directed to leave by an authorized representative of the department. (If you are caught carrying a handgun without a license or any other firearm or breaking any of the other rules, then you can be asked to leave the park area by an authorized rep from DNR.) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Code section commits the offense of criminal trespass. (If you refuse to leave after being asked too, then you can be arrested for criminal trespass) (12-3-10, 16-11-127)

Wildlife management areas: Except for those with a valid license to carry, it is against the law in Georgia to possess a firearm during a closed hunting season for that wildlife management area unless such firearm is unloaded and stored in a motor vehicle so as not to be readily accessible or to possess a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle during a legal open hunting season for that area. (27-3-1.1, 16-11-127)

Tugaloo is an off-limits place for firearms.

You are prety much good to go anywhere in a Georgia State Park UNLESS you enter Army Corps of Engineers property or other Federal (leased) property. COE does not permit firearm carry on their lands, even when leased to the State. While on COE lands, firearms must be unloaded, cased and stored.