amtilton17
Regular Member
So, what exactly are the rules regarding handguns in a national park in Virginia? We may be planning a camping trip to Shenandoah next summer and I wanted to make sure I was within the law if I take my gun with me.
-
We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
-
If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
-
Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.
Camping at Shenandoah National Park
- Thread starter amtilton17
- Start date
NPS (Nat'l Park Service) lands follow the law of the state in which they are located.
http://www.nps.gov/shen/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm
Amendment on Guns in National Parks:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_CARD_Act_of_2009
Do not confuse Nat'l Parks with Nat'l Forest lands - the two often are side by side. In Nat'l Forests, it is only permissible to OC during set hunting seasons.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5066182.pdf
amtilton17
Regular Member
I could not find VA regulations on firearms in state or national parks. Does anybody know what is legal in Virginia regarding parks? OC, CC? Permit or no permit?
OC and CC is legal. As Grapeshot said, if it's legal at downtown Virginia, it's legal in the National Park. You cannot carry in buildings that house Park Staff. They have to be marked.
There is some controversy about long guns. Slung is OK but the Park Officials have the opinion that hand carried is brandishing and therefore illegal under Va law.
http://news.oldva.org/?p=19061
State Parks:
http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad...ad/dailypress/the_shad_plank+(The+Shad+Plank)
amtilton17
Regular Member
OC and CC is legal. As Grapeshot said, if it's legal at downtown Virginia, it's legal in the National Park. You cannot carry in buildings that house Park Staff. They have to be marked.
There is some controversy about long guns. Slung is OK but the Park Officials have the opinion that hand carried is brandishing and therefore illegal under Va law.
http://news.oldva.org/?p=19061
State Parks:
http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad...ad/dailypress/the_shad_plank+(The+Shad+Plank)
Gotcha. Thanks.
I'm sorry - seeing that you are located in Va, I thought you would be familiar with our preemption law:
Concealed carry requires a CHP, OC does not require a permit in Virginia, subject to private property rules and restricted by law persons.
amtilton17
Regular Member
I am aware of the preemption. I just wasnt sure if va had any state laws specifically for parks like they do for schools courts churches and government buildings.
Ah well yes, a short primer on § 15.2-915 - preemption is in order.
State agencies are not covered by preemption.
K-12 schools are GFZ. Here is a link to all of the aspects of guns and schools:
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/s...enlighten-me-on-Virginia-law-schools-and-guns
Churches are not restricted if one has "good and sufficient reason"
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/va-attorney-general-rules-on-guns-in-church/
State parks have a long and annoying history. McDonnell did his best to back away from his promise to allow OC in State Parks.
Grapeshot with VCDL spearheaded the fight while McDonnell got some not so gentle pushes from elsewhere. He finally blinked.
Here is part of the story that led up to the freedom we have now.
http://news.oldva.org/?page_id=3709
Grapeshot with VCDL spearheaded the fight while McDonnell got some not so gentle pushes from elsewhere. He finally blinked.
Here is part of the story that led up to the freedom we have now.
http://news.oldva.org/?page_id=3709
Last edited:
State Forests was the protracted battle Peter and I was only a bit player in that drawn out seige. I seem to remember seeing you there everytime a peeked in the window. :lol:
Hmmmm...I'd better take my Geritol, it was the forests wasn't it. :uhoh:
I have the proof about you though, if you recall I had a camera
State Parks
The change results from an order issued [strike]late last week[/strike] by Gov. Bob McDonnell directing the Department of Conservation and Recreation to cease enforcement of the ban.
In a letter to Conservation and Recreation Director David A. Johnson dated Jan. 14 (2012), McDonnell said he relies on an opinion he issued in 2008, when he was attorney general, on whether the department had authorization to enact a ban.
http://www.wsls.com/story/20838752/mcdonnell-order-oks-openly-carrying-firearms-in-state-parks
The change results from an order issued [strike]late last week[/strike] by Gov. Bob McDonnell directing the Department of Conservation and Recreation to cease enforcement of the ban.
In a letter to Conservation and Recreation Director David A. Johnson dated Jan. 14 (2012), McDonnell said he relies on an opinion he issued in 2008, when he was attorney general, on whether the department had authorization to enact a ban.
http://www.wsls.com/story/20838752/mcdonnell-order-oks-openly-carrying-firearms-in-state-parks
Last edited:
user
Accomplished Advocate
Just got back from a few days at Big Meadows. Here's my observations: the Lodge and Wayside, as well as Skyland are ok, since they're under the control of and staffed by, the concessionaire, and not federal employees. The Visitors' Center, on the other hand, is staffed by NPS personnel, and is therefore a "federal facility" - I didn't see any markings on the outside of the building, but I wouldn't go in there with a gun.
Federal law prohibits firearms in “federal facilities,” which are generally defined as federally-owned or-leased buildings where federal employees work on a regular basis. Buildings that meet this definition will have signs posted at public entrances noting the prohibition on firearms.
Federal law (Sec. 512 of P.L. 111-24), effective February 22, 2010, makes national parks – and national wildlife refuges – subject to applicable federal, state, and local firearms laws. The law is a provision of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009.
Then there is this:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/upload/Firearms-in-IMRparks2-2010.pdf
Last edited: