Do we carry in National Parks, or not?

[chubcobear]

We visited Military National Park in Vicksburg, Ms. and the Brochure still shows that legal concealed carry is not allowed. Are there exceptions to the law that went into effect Feb. 22 of this year? Did I miss something?

 

[Andy Griffith]

We visited Military National Park in Vicksburg, Ms. and the Brochure still shows that legal concealed carry is not allowed. Are there exceptions to the law that went into effect Feb. 22 of this year? Did I miss something?

Yes.
Most notably most park buildings. Think of them the same way you would a post office. At least, that was what the signs read at the Great Smoky Mtns NP. (Not the post office bit- I included that)

Not trying to hijack this, but why are firearms prohibited around dams? It isn't like you're going to be able to shoot a hole in it. Perhaps carry over from a time when folks didn't care too much for the Roosevelt administration taking their land...
I can see alcoholic drinks- I guess they don't want you falling off. Of course, you could have gotten drunk somewhere else.

 

[dnonac]

National park carry is now legal. However, you are still prohibited from carrying in any of the buildings normally occupied by federal employees (park headquarters, information centers, etc).

 

[cjw3]

I would bet that they have not gotten around to printing up new brochures....it's government, so what's the hurry? - Retired state government employee, by the way.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Not trying to hijack this, but why are firearms prohibited around dams? It isn't like you're going to be able to shoot a hole in it. Perhaps carry over from a time when folks didn't care too much for the Roosevelt administration taking their land...

It's a security issue, Andy. Dams, especially large ones, are considered high value targets and they don't want to be in a position of having to guess which civilians with guns are a potential problem, and so, they just ban all of them. If you are not part of the security, no guns around dams and hydroelectric stations. I am sure the same logic applies to nuclear power plants.


Bullseye

 

[2000Z-71]

Provided you are legal to carry within the state the park is located in, you're good to go. As mentioned can not carry inside buildings. Also, it may be legal to carry, but it is still illegal to discharge a firearm within a National Park.

 

[Skeeziks]

Also, it may be legal to carry, but it is still illegal to discharge a firearm within a National Park.

This is the part that has had me stumped ever since the change. What's the point in making it legal to carry if it's illegal to discharge?

I'm legally carrying my S&W for protection and then, when I feel my life or limb is in danger, I pull my revolver and just point it at the threat and say "Bang! you're dead," because I'm not allowed to pull the trigger.
Is it just me who is not clear on this...or does there need to be a clarification of the law here?

 

[writerinmo]

I don't think they are going to have a fit over a self-defense issue, more likely to prevent target shooting.

 

[Strato]

I don't think they are going to have a fit over a self-defense issue, more likely to prevent target shooting.

I believe that's right just like it's illegal to discharge a weapon in Walmart but when a crazy lady's running through stabbing people it becomes an entirely different situation.