CCW in National Parks & Utah State Parks

[Bud11]

I understand it is now legal to CCW in National Parks (with the exception of 3 I believe - not sure which ones).

I'm planning a visit to Utah and will be going to state and national parks there.

I have a valid CO CCW (called CHP here) and understand Utah has reciprocity with CO.

So Utah guys, can I CCW in your state parks?

 

[ispcapt]

It's not quite as clear cut as being able to carry in all national parks. It's not a blanket authority to carry in every national park. To legally carry in a national park you have to be legal to carry in the state where the national park is located. So if your CHP is legal in Utah then you can carry in the national parks in Utah as long as you abide by any restrictions of Utah law. But if you go to Nevada and Nevada does not recognize your Colorado CHP then you cannot carry in national parks located in Nevada.
When the law changed a couple of years ago it said the carrying of firearms in national parks is the same as the state law where the park is located. Where a person really has to be careful is in those national parks which cover more than one state. In those cases a person may be legal to carry in part of the park which is in one state but illegal in another part of the park which is located in another state. It's the carrier's responsibility to not only know which state is legal but to also know which state they are in when they are in the park. There's not dotted line on the highway or markers on trees letting a person know when they cross from one state into another.
State parks may have different rules/prohibitions than national parks. You can contact Utah DNR to find out.

 

[cptdco]

ispcapt has it right...when Obama signed the order, he (as I understand it) simply removed the restriction that prevented exercising a right regulated by the individual states. But keep in mind that there is still a federal law against taking a firearm into a federal building including any building owned or controlled by the National Park Service. This would include visitor's centers and may include other buildings like consession-operated restaurants or lodging. I think the Park Service has done a good job at marking those doorways...look for a decal with a gun and the line through it. So if you need to pick up a trail map before you set off into the wilderness, leave the gun in the car. He's also got the state park statement right. Where I live in PA, there was (until recently) a law similar to the fed law on national parks but it was repealed. I think its humorous that Ed Rendal (liberal democrat governor of PA) and Obama both signed laws around the same time that (as an avid hiker) greatly increased where I can carry.

 

[ispcapt]

But keep in mind that there is still a federal law against taking a firearm into a federal building including any building owned or controlled by the National Park Service. This would include visitor's centers and may include other buildings like consession-operated restaurants or lodging

Good point and I apologize for not mentioning that. cptdco is absolutely correct. When in a national park don't carry in any building occupied by an employee. Those places are still out of bounds.

 

[Rule 303]

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/utah.pdf


Carry In State Parks/State & National Forests/WMA/Road Side Rest Areas

Carry Allowed in these Areas:
State Parks: YES Admin. Rule R651-612
State/National Forests: YES Admin. Rule R651-61
WMA’s: YES Admin. Rule R651-61
Road Side Rest Areas: YES per UHP
RV/Car Carry Without A Permit/License
*******************************************


Call up the USNPS Areas you're going to and ask them.

Check with the National Park Service for carry in Utah USNPS Areas. Ask for the Chief Ranger's Secetary or the Chief Ranger.

or from the USNPS.gov web site

Utah examples:


Zion
Zion National Park - Laws & Policies (U.S. National Park Service)


Arches
Arches National Park - Laws & Policies (U.S. National Park Service)

Rule 303

 

[Dominus_Lex]

Am I correct that this also has the same effect on open carry? Thus in MI, MT, AZ, and other States with open carry laws anyone can carry in a national park. Or does the law in effect make national parks an open carry zone? (I would assume it does not)

 

[ispcapt]

Am I correct that this also has the same effect on open carry? Thus in MI, MT, AZ, and other States with open carry laws anyone can carry in a national park. Or does the law in effect make national parks an open carry zone? (I would assume it does not)

The law pertaining to carrying in national parks is whatever is permitted in the state where the national park is located. It's whatever the state allows or restricts.

 

[jkc]

The law pertaining to carrying in national parks is whatever is permitted in the state where the national park is located. It's whatever the state allows or restricts.

This is an accurate summation of the issue.

 

[Road Rat]

However, there is always some fool ready to mess things up:

McDermott Bill: Restores Gun Ban in National Parks