Concealed Carry now allowed on National Parks holdings

http://www.doi.gov/news/08_News_Releases/120508.html

Interior Announces Final Firearms Policy Update

   [RIGHT][b]WASHINGTON, D.C. ?[/b] Assistant Secretary of the Interior     for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Lyle Laverty today announced that the Department     of the Interior has finalized updated regulations governing the possession     of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. The final rule, which     updates existing regulations, would allow an individual to carry a concealed     weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges if, and only if, the individual     is authorized to carry a concealed weapon under state law in the state in     which the national park or refuge is located. The update has been submitted     to the Federal Register for publication and is available to the public on [www.doi.gov](http://www.doi.gov/).[/RIGHT]

Happy Dance

OK! SO NOW WE CAN BEAR ARMS, OR IS THAT ARM BEARS?:rolleyes:

A step in the right direction BUT it should be expanded to anyone having a valid concealed carry permit in ANY state to be allowed to do same in any National Park. The rationale is that National Parks are ,with few exceptions, outside the legal jurisdiction of the state in which they are located. So why the requirement of concealed carry permit to be issued by the state in which the park is located? Concealed carry permits are not easily obtained in any state and some positive assumptions regarding those who DO have them could be made by the NPS.

Mark

I do not read the changes that way. I understand it as that if one is legal to conceal carry in the state that the Fed park is located then they are also allowed to now do so in side the park. Doesn’t have really anything to do with what state issued the license as long as it is accepted legally in that state.

Marco, a couple things:

State laws do apply on Federal lands. The Park Service (as well as the Forest Service, BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, etc.) all have regulations that apply to their lands (such as the one being discussed) but state laws still apply. Think of license plates and driver’s licenses. The Feds do not issue license plates if you live in a Park, and they honor all other states’ plates and licenses…

Some places it is ridiculously easy to get a CCW permit. The first one I got, I walked into the county sheriff’s office, filled out an application, got fingerprinted (and those prints were not put into the then-equivalent of AFIS), and walked out with a permit. There are still jurisdictions where all you have to do is ask and not have a criminal record. I know people who do not have records that I would not give a sharpened pencil to, let alone a firearm.

And then there are enlightened states like Alaska where CC permits are optional and folks can carry concealed without permits. :wink:

Firearm laws are entering one of the most radical times ever. With the SCOTUS decision in Heller vs. DC much has changed. As the courts fall into step behind the decision changes will accelerate.

Looks like Lyle needs to read and research recent court decisions nation-wide on H.R. 218.

Now we could only carry them to protect ourselves in the zoo that is
(Insert any major U.S. city)