asubae
Regular Member
Open Carried with my buddy at South Mountain today in Phoenix. Since we went for the sole purpose of physical activity, we hiked a few miles on a trail. Virtually no problems. Our trail was off the beaten path and pretty lengthy into the wilderness, too. Great exercise.
The information we could find pertaining to Open Carry (or carrying at all) among the City of Phoenix government website, forums, and internet seemed a bit convoluted. Originally, we had wanted to hike up Camelback, however there was signage at the beginning of the trail out of the parking lot prohibiting [all] firearms. As Phoenicians ourselves, we were highly confused.
So, here's the conundrum.
Retrieved from the City of Phoenix .gov Website, page 3:
Here's a link to the actual written referenced statute, ARS § 13-3108(D):
Upon my trip to Camelback mountain in Phoenix, it was POSTED: Firearms are prohibited by symbol and verbiage on the sign. However, about 18 minutes away still in Phoenix, going to South Mountain, this was the signage posted as of 6:30AM, 6/24/14. You can tell the sign was intentionally modified to remove the prohibition on firearms symbol with matching subdued tape. Using our knowledge of the law, information provided by the city, and seeing the obviously modified signage to [seemingly] permit firearms, we decided to go ahead and open carry anyway. For the record, the same sign appeared at Camelback, just with a written bullet stating firearms are prohibited and the second from the top decal wasn't taped over.
Granted, South Mountain is a bit more "rural" than Camelback, they are both state parks and the City of Phoenix contradicts itself in its government information by citing the law which claims state preemption, and then proceeds to keep the sign at Camelback prohibiting firearms when the law and their government website states otherwise.
We decided to obey the signage at Camelback and go hiking at South Mountain instead.. but I suppose my main question is, What gives?! Why would they say it's "okay" in one area and not the other? Ideas, comments, and discussion is welcome. I will also contact the Park Ranger service and see if I can't divulge any further information.
The information we could find pertaining to Open Carry (or carrying at all) among the City of Phoenix government website, forums, and internet seemed a bit convoluted. Originally, we had wanted to hike up Camelback, however there was signage at the beginning of the trail out of the parking lot prohibiting [all] firearms. As Phoenicians ourselves, we were highly confused.
So, here's the conundrum.
Retrieved from the City of Phoenix .gov Website, page 3:
Here's a link to the actual written referenced statute, ARS § 13-3108(D):
Upon my trip to Camelback mountain in Phoenix, it was POSTED: Firearms are prohibited by symbol and verbiage on the sign. However, about 18 minutes away still in Phoenix, going to South Mountain, this was the signage posted as of 6:30AM, 6/24/14. You can tell the sign was intentionally modified to remove the prohibition on firearms symbol with matching subdued tape. Using our knowledge of the law, information provided by the city, and seeing the obviously modified signage to [seemingly] permit firearms, we decided to go ahead and open carry anyway. For the record, the same sign appeared at Camelback, just with a written bullet stating firearms are prohibited and the second from the top decal wasn't taped over.
Granted, South Mountain is a bit more "rural" than Camelback, they are both state parks and the City of Phoenix contradicts itself in its government information by citing the law which claims state preemption, and then proceeds to keep the sign at Camelback prohibiting firearms when the law and their government website states otherwise.
We decided to obey the signage at Camelback and go hiking at South Mountain instead.. but I suppose my main question is, What gives?! Why would they say it's "okay" in one area and not the other? Ideas, comments, and discussion is welcome. I will also contact the Park Ranger service and see if I can't divulge any further information.
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