Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I can't keep track of all of the changes and don't know the status of right to carry in national parks. If you have a CHP can you carry concealed in Shenandoah National Park in VA?

If I remember correctly you can;t carry in a National Park until February of next year,,That amendment was the add on to the Credit card bill this year that had all the liberals wetting themselves ,,, They were concerned for Smokey the Bear or some other such nonsense

VBshooter wrote:If I remember correctly you can;t carry in a National Park until February of next year,,That amendment was the add on to the Credit card bill this year that had all the liberals wetting themselves ,,, They were concerned for Smokey the Bear or some other such nonsense

You are correct Spence. I forget which day but Feb 2010 you can carry in all national parks. The Brady Bunch is still fuming over this one.

Are the national forests considered national parks? I had read on the National Forest Service website that firearms were prohibited, except for hunting season and on designated shooting ranges within the forest areas. I know in Virginia we have the Washington and Jefferson National forests (and probably some others). Were these areas also included in the legislation?

Parry

Only thing I could find about the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests is this:

Firing a gun is not allowed: a) in or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; b) across or on a road or body of water; c) in any circumstance whereby any person may be injured or property damaged.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/general_info/rules.shtml

I was under the impression that we could carry concealed and possbily open but that there was some variation in the rules from forest to forest.

Looks like state laws apply. You can also check here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/general_inf ... _Lands.pdf

"First, the primary laws governing possession of firearms and other weapons on National Forest are State Laws."

I feel comfortable with the laws in parks[in Feb.2009] and I hunt the Geo Wash /Thom Jeff National Forrest -----BUT does this newly passed Law cover The many Battlefield Parks [Federal Lands] through out our area or recipacal states for that matter?

The battlefields fall under the National Park Service, I believe, so it should cover them- more research required though. As for reciprical states- yes, you should be able to CC if your permit is good in a given state. The whole thing about this law is that carrying a firearm would be allowed based on the laws of each state. I've seen people complain that anyone will be able to carry a firearm to The Statue of Liberty, Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and other places because of this law. That is complete BS, if you can't carry a firearm in NYC or DC then you can't carry one to those places. It all depends on the laws of the state in which the park is in. For example, in VA anyone (meeting state laws) would be allowed to OC in the Shenandoah National Park because they can OC in VA. In TX nobody can OC because OC is illegal in TX, CC is allowed though with a permit so that's ok. But it doesn't go into effect until Feb. 2010.

Oh yeah, the new law does nothing to open reciprocity between the states. That remains the same, states have to work it out between themselves. So if you have a VA CHP you are good to CC in 20-some states.

Thanks Moccasin..............I take short cuts through a few Battlefield parks around Fred'burg. Like to stay within the realm the gun community doesn't need negative publicity.

Thanks everyone. Spent a beautiful weekend near Shenandoah. I still can't believe how absurd it is that you can't carry in the forest. Very odd. Glad it will change in Feb.

oops, double tap.

H.R. 627:
111th Congress
Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009
http://tinyurl.com/ozyu5z


We're mostly concerned with section 512
Section 512 -
Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from promulgating or enforcing any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm, including an assembled or functional firearm, in any unit of the National Park System (NPS) or the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) if: (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and (2) the possession of the firearm complies with the law of the state in which the NPS or NWRS unit is located.
BUT, the law doesn't activate until Feb 29, 2010
So remember, until that date...

The wife and I are going to do the Skyline Drive thing this weekend. I'm imagining the carry piece stays home, since it's in the park?

You imagine correctly, Skyline Drive is located within the park so no guns until Feb 2010. But look at the bright side; according to the Brady Bunch we can all carry AR's and AK's in any National Park we want to and get drunk and kill all the cute little critters.

Moccasin wrote:But look at the bright side; according to the Brady Bunch we can all carry AR's and AK's in any National Park we want to and get drunk and kill all the cute little critters.

I see a future VGOF picnic event

OakRidgeStars wrote:

Moccasin wrote:But look at the bright side; according to the Brady Bunch we can all carry AR's and AK's in any National Park we want to and get drunk and kill all the cute little critters.

I see a future VGOF picnic event

Yeah, we need to look closely at the date we can start carrying there, Feb. 28 is a Sunday and the cold don't bother me.

isn't it ironic that just recently, again, 2 people found killed in a National ParK? Shot? so the 'bad' folk disregard the laws, and 'we' get shot but can't carry? yikes

Regarding carrying in National Forests in Virginia:

This page:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/HUNTING/re ... clands.asp
references a concealed handgun exemption in National Forests on this page:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/HUNTING/re ... ed-handgun

But I don't see where that second page says it also applies to National Forests.

This page: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/general_info/index.shtml
says that National Forests are subject to Federal regulations but also says to look at State game laws regarding firearms.

Im not certain but I think there might be a distinction between national parks and national forests.

Ahh, it's less confusing now. The PDF linked above was broken for me, but this one may the same thing: http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMEN ... 066182.pdf