National Forests / National Parks / National and State Reserves and Refuges: National Park System Firearms Brochure National monuments, national reserves, national historic sites/parks, national rivers, national memorials, national recreation areas, and national shorelines all fall under the National Park Service, which is managed by the Department of the Interior. Congress passed a new law allowing loaded firearms in national parks effective February 22, 2010. This means that people can openly carry handguns, rifles, shotguns, and other legal firearms, and can also carry concealed guns as permitted by state law. The new federal law applies state law to gun ownership in national parks. Since some national parks are located in more than one state, gun laws may change depending on your location in that park. In the southeast, Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks allow spraying against bears. Curiously, other non-lethal devices such as pepper spray and stun guns will still be considered illegal weapons in national parks, even after gun laws change in February. In Georgia, a serial killer chased hikers through national forests. At a campground in Tennessee, a mother and her two young children were torn apart by a black bear. Two Virginia Tech students were found shot dead on their campground in the Jefferson National Forest, their killers still at large.

«Most experienced hikers don`t feel the need to carry a gun,» said Brian King, spokesman for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 18 § 930. Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in federal institutions (a) Except as provided in paragraph (d), every person who knowingly possesses or causes to be present or attempts to cause a firearm or other dangerous weapon to be present in a federal institution (other than a Federal Court institution) is liable to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year under this title. or both. (b) Every person who possesses or knowingly causes to be placed or attempts to obtain such a firearm or dangerous weapon in a federal institution is liable, under this title, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both. (c) Any person who kills, attempts or conspires to commit such an act in violation of paragraph (a) or (b) or in the course of an attack against a federal entity using a firearm or other dangerous weapon shall be punished in accordance with article 1111. 1112, 1113 and 1117. (d) Paragraph (a) does not apply (1) to the lawful performance of official duties by an official, agent or employee of the United States, any state or political subdivision authorized by law to conduct or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of violations of the law; (2) possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by a federal officer or member of the armed forces, if such possession is permitted by law; or (3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a federal facility for hunting or other lawful purposes.

(e) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), every person who knowingly possesses a firearm or causes it to be on the premises of a federal court or attempts to do so is liable under this title to a fine, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both. 2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the conduct described in paragraph 1 or 2 of point (d). (f) Nothing in this section limits the power of a court of the United States to punish contempt or to issue rules or orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the possession of weapons in or for reasons related to such a building or proceeding. (g) As used in this section: (1) «Government institution» means a building or part of a building owned or leased by the federal government in which federal employees are lawfully resident in the performance of their official duties. (2) The term «dangerous weapon» means a weapon, device, instrument, material or substance, whether animated or inanimate, that is used or is likely to cause death or serious bodily harm, except that it does not include a pocket knife whose blade is less than 2 1/2 inches in length. (3) The term «federal court» means the courtroom, judicial chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorneys` conference rooms, prison cells, offices of clerks, attorney general and field marshal of the United States, probation and probation offices and adjacent corridors of a court of the United States. (h) The reference to the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) must be prominently displayed at every public entrance of each federal entity, and the reference to paragraph (e) must be prominently displayed at every public entrance of every Federal Court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offence under paragraph (a) or (e) in respect of a federal entity; if such notification is not appropriate in that institution. unless that person actually had knowledge of paragraph (a) or (e), as the case may be. Spraying is safer There are many ways to protect yourself in the forest without carrying a firearm. If you`re worried about black bears, wear bear spray, which is more effective than a gun, according to a study by Thomas Smith, a biologist at Brigham Young University who analyzed 20 years of bear attacks in Alaska.

His conclusions: bear spray stops an attack 92% of the time, while guns only succeed 67% of the time. But will a new law allowing guns in national parks make us safer — or put us at risk? 36 CFR 261.1b – Penalty. Section 2.4 Weapons, Booby Traps and Nets. (a) 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section and Parts 7 (Special Provisions) and 13 (Alaska Regulations), (i) possession of a weapon, trap or net shall be prohibited (ii) carrying a weapon, trap or net (iii) use of a weapon, trap or net 2. Firearms, booby traps or nets may be carried, possessed or used: (i) At certain times and locations in areas of the Park if: (A) the removal of wildlife is authorized by law under section 2.2 of this chapter; (B) The catch of fish is permitted by law in accordance with § 2.3 of this Part. (ii) When used for target practice at specific times and in facilities or places specially designed and constructed for that purpose and designated in accordance with specific regulations. (iii) In a residential dwelling. For the purposes of this subparagraph only, `dwelling` means a fixed dwelling structure which is either the principal residence of its occupants or which is regularly and regularly used by its occupants as an alternative residence or holiday home. 3.

Traps, nets and unloaded weapons may be possessed in temporary accommodation or in a mode of mechanical transport if such equipment is temporarily decommissioned or packaged, packed or stored in such a way as to prevent their use. (b) The carrying or possession of a loaded weapon in a motor vehicle, ship or other means of transport is prohibited, except that the carrying or possession of a loaded weapon is permitted on board a ship if the ship is not propelled by machinery and is used as a firing platform under federal and state law. (c) The use of a weapon, booby trap or net in a manner that endangers persons or property is prohibited. (d) The Superintendent may grant permission to carry or possess a weapon, trap or net if it is necessary in the following circumstances: (1) To the extent necessary to support the research activities referred to in section 2.5. (2) The carrying of firearms by persons in charge of pack trains or saddle horses in an emergency. (3) For employees, agents or officials cooperating in the performance of their official duties. (4) Provide access to otherwise inaccessible lands or waters adjacent to a park area if other access routes are otherwise impassable or impossible. Any breach of the conditions of an authorisation granted in accordance with this paragraph shall be prohibited and may result in the suspension or revocation of the authorisation. (e) Law enforcement officers authorized at the federal, state and local levels may carry firearms in the performance of their official duties. (f) It is prohibited to carry or possess a weapon, trap or net in violation of applicable federal and state laws. (g) The provisions of this section apply, regardless of land ownership, to all lands and waters in a park area that are subject to the legislative jurisdiction of the United States.