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National Park Carry

taurusfan

taurusfan

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Now that we can carry in National Parks I wonder is there a general prohibition against discharging firearms?

I assume it's still a major crime to shoot into a tree? What is the penalty for that?

Also, I have read that the carried gun still has to be unloaded?

Anyway...we've some progress!
 
gis

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glockfan wrote:
Also, I have read that the carried gun still has to be unloaded?
Click to expand...

No, you can carry loaded in the same manner (OC or CC) as legal for you anywhere else in VA. You have to observe the no carry signs posted at the entrances to federal buildings (e.g. visitor center).

Regarding discharge, I will let someone else prvide the applicable rule, but it would still be illegal under the conditions you described (i.e. shooting trees). Personally, I think that stooting trees is a silly thing to do and could potentially be dangerous (if you miss without backstop), even where legal.
 
G

Glock27Bill

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glockfan wrote:
Now that we can carry in National Parks I wonder is there a general prohibition against discharging firearms?

I assume it's still a major crime to shoot into a tree? What is the penalty for that?

Also, I have read that the carried gun still has to be unloaded?

Anyway...we've some progress!
Click to expand...
You don't have to carry unloaded, but you should have your brain engaged.

The law makes it legal to carry for self defense in National Parks.

It does not make them public ranges, anymore than any other place we carry are.
 
W.E.G.

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If you annoy the ranger, I suspect he would charge you with vandalism or endangering others.

I haven't been able to find a law yet that specifically prohibits shooting in the National Park.
I did find a rule that allows trappers to carry .22 rimfire when trapping certain critters.
Presumably it was expected that the trapper would shoot the critter caught in the trap.

Remember too, there are state statutes and county "hunting" ordinances you may violate just by discharging a firearm in certain areas.

For example:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/local-ordinances.pdf
 
peter nap

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You'd get charged with something...and I'd congratulate the Ranger:p

Those of us with small sawmills, don't like tree shooters.
 
Grapeshot

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Keep in mind that the regulations to carry a firearm do not permit the discharging of a firearm. The discharge of a firearm is still illegal in national parks.
Click to expand...
Excerpted from http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/firearms.htm which seems to be typical of every NPS site I checked.

The NPS home page does not address this, but rather directs one to the individual parks.

Note that there are exceptions for hunting where legal.

It looks like to me that self-defense might only be an affirmative defense. :?

Yata hey
 
A

AbNo

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glockfan wrote:
http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/bear_safety.htm

"If a bear charges…
Don’t run! Bears often make bluff charges, sometimes to within 10 feet of their adversary, without making contact. Usually if you hold your ground they will back off."


The important word in that sentence is 'usually.'

I'm so happy to be able to carry legally!
Click to expand...
Maybe so, but I'd want more than a Glock for a bear.

Maybe a howitzer and a few football fields. ;)
 
G

Glock27Bill

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AbNo wrote:
glockfan wrote:
http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/bear_safety.htm

"If a bear charges…
Don’t run! Bears often make bluff charges, sometimes to within 10 feet of their adversary, without making contact. Usually if you hold your ground they will back off."


The important word in that sentence is 'usually.'

I'm so happy to be able to carry legally!
Click to expand...
Maybe so, but I'd want more than a Glock for a bear.

Maybe a howitzer and a few football fields. ;)
Click to expand...
I carry a Glock.

The way some talk about them, all you have to do is pull the pin and anything withing a large radius is doomed.
 
peter nap

peter nap

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AbNo wrote:
glockfan wrote:
http://www.nps.gov/shen/naturescience/bear_safety.htm

"If a bear charges…
Don’t run! Bears often make bluff charges, sometimes to within 10 feet of their adversary, without making contact. Usually if you hold your ground they will back off."


The important word in that sentence is 'usually.'

I'm so happy to be able to carry legally!
Click to expand...
Maybe so, but I'd want more than a Glock for a bear.

Maybe a howitzer and a few football fields. ;)
Click to expand...
I like compact guns. Yesterday I had a Mother Bear and two cubs looking for handouts and was glad I had a small easily carried gun with me.
oc2-3.jpg
 
peter nap

peter nap

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NavyLT wrote:
architect wrote:
AbNo wrote:
Maybe so, but I'd want more than a Glock for a bear.

Maybe a howitzer and a few football fields. ;)
Click to expand...
...and a really slow hiking companion!
Click to expand...
I've heard that Glocks ARE fairly good at slowing down hiking companions....
Click to expand...
Nothing really wrong with Glocks. I thought about buying one once. After doing a little shopping I found that Super Soakers were cheaper.
 
Grapeshot

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A glock would likely be no more than an expensive chew toy for some. :)

Yata hey
 
Marco

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AbNo wrote:
Maybe so, but I'd want more than a Glock for a bear.

Maybe a howitzer and a few football fields. ;)
Click to expand...
There are documented cases were a Glock 23 (13 rds)and G20 have been used to drop a charging Bear, at least one of those Bears was a Grizzly.

Never heard of a .45acp stopping a Bear, maybe you 1911 (.45acp) owners could coat your gun in meat sauce and hope the steel frame will break the bears teeth.
 
gis

gis

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Agent19 wrote:
AbNo wrote:
Maybe so, but I'd want more than a Glock for a bear.

Maybe a howitzer and a few football fields. ;)
Click to expand...
There are documented cases were a Glock 23 (13 rds)and G20 have been used to drop a charging Bear, at least one of those Bears was a Grizzly.

Never heard of a .45acp stopping a Bear, maybe you 1911 (.45acp) owners could coat your gun in meat sauce and hope the steel frame will break the bears teeth.
Click to expand...
Interesting idea. :D I have to admit that I am one of those Glock carriers, although I love my 1911s too. I actually thought of buying a Glock 20 for national park carry, but went with a S&W 329PD. Good old .44 magnum beats anything Glock has to offer for serious critters. I wouldn't even consider a 45ACP for this application.
 
peter nap

peter nap

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gis wrote:
Agent19 wrote:
AbNo wrote:
Maybe so, but I'd want more than a Glock for a bear.

Maybe a howitzer and a few football fields. ;)
Click to expand...
There are documented cases were a Glock 23 (13 rds)and G20 have been used to drop a charging Bear, at least one of those Bears was a Grizzly.

Never heard of a .45acp stopping a Bear, maybe you 1911 (.45acp) owners could coat your gun in meat sauce and hope the steel frame will break the bears teeth.
Click to expand...
Interesting idea. :D I have to admit that I am one of those Glock carriers, although I love my 1911s too. I actually thought of buying a Glock 20 for national park carry, but went with a S&W 329PD. Good old .44 magnum beats anything Glock has to offer for serious critters. I wouldn't even consider a 45ACP for this application.
Click to expand...
All BFR ribbing aside, although I love both of mine, they are big and not always the easiest thing to carry. Glocks are IMO, town guns and so is my 1911.

Bears are a consideration but really not much of a threat most of the time. The worst thing I've ever had happen with a bear is getting a camera lens bitten and I think that's because the lens and my Ghille jacked reeked of Vanilla Extract.

I often carry a reworked Rossi in 44 special. It's very good for people and bears and is small and easy to wear.

Next most carried gun is my Super Blackhawk in 44 Mag.

I told Curtis a couple of months ago that the Ruger Redhawk in 45LC with a 4" barrel was the most versatile gun on earth and I stand by that. He bought one and now he doesn't have to think about what his go to gun is.
 
C

curtiswr

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peter nap wrote:
I told Curtis a couple of months ago that the Ruger Redhawk in 45LC with a 4" barrel was the most versatile gun on earth and I stand by that. He bought one and now he doesn't have to think about what his go to gun is.
Click to expand...
Yes sir, and I love it. No question as to which of mine I'll take roaming and hiking into the woods. :)

Still trying to decide if I want to get a holster from New Kent Leather for it or not. I think I probably will eventually. Unfortunately with warmer weather coming I think I might have to carry either my Glock once my Serpa arrives for it. I need the paddle holster so I can have something that I can easy on/easy off for when I take the short walk out to the car. But that's a whole different story. Maybe I'll just carry the Redhawk and cover it with a bag for trips to the car/mail/trash/whatever...

But if the journey is to the trails and the woods it will definitely be what I take.

IMG_0113s.jpg
 
Grapeshot

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Curtis wrote:
peter nap wrote:
I told Curtis a couple of months ago that the Ruger Redhawk in 45LC with a 4" barrel was the most versatile gun on earth and I stand by that. He bought one and now he doesn't have to think about what his go to gun is.
Click to expand...
Yes sir, and I love it. No question as to which of mine I'll take roaming and hiking into the woods. :)

Still trying to decide if I want to get a holster from New Kent Leather for it or not. I think I probably will eventually. Unfortunately with warmer weather coming I think I might have to carry either my Glock once my Serpa arrives for it. I need the paddle holster so I can have something that I can easy on/easy off for when I take the short walk out to the car. But that's a whole different story. Maybe I'll just carry the Redhawk and cover it with a bag for trips to the car/mail/trash/whatever...

But if the journey is to the trails and the woods it will definitely be what I take.

IMG_0113s.jpg
Click to expand...
That sho 'nuff is a pretty filly, you got there.

Looks right healthy too. :)

Yata hey
 
paramedic70002

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If I'm out and about in bear country, and get charged by a bear, I hope I am able to come back here and tell y'all if 45ACP directed into the face/nose/mouth/eyes is a deterrent.
 
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