CCW in a National Park

[NateI]

My family and I (wife and 3 sons) are planning a trip to Yellowstone/Teton this summer. I live in GA where I routinely carry. I know that Wyoming is a recip state even though it is clearly posted that there is NO carry in a national park.
My question: What is better or worse, taking the chance to get caught while carrying or needing your firearm to protect your family and not having it?
What do you personally do when going to a national park, with respect to CCW?
Has anyone been checked while in a national park?
What are the consequences if you get caught in a national park w/ CCW?

I know that no one wants to "condone" breaking the law, but some honest advice would be appreciated. Yellowstone is big country with lots of people and animals: I would love to be able to protect my family if need be.
Thanks

[VARMONTER]

pepper spray

I know it's a hard thing.You feel a bit naked without your EDC.
But how many times a year have you needed(used) it?
Probably worth the risk not to bring it.Your chances are good you would return safe and sound and unscathed by 2 legged or four legged varmints.

Besides a .45 just pisses grizzlies off.

[.45calRotty]

READ this: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20...national_parks

[castlecrags]

There is currently an injunction against carrying in Nat. Parks.

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Fe...d.aspx?id=4634

Live in JH Wy. hike, climb etc. in those parks alot. Know many of the ranger's

Note. Nat. Parks are a world into their own, some rangers are cool & some are totally anti gun.

While I CCW don't carry in the Park cause it's illegal, actually never felt the need(okay lets start the various doomsday/meth-head moose,bipolar bison, charging cougar argument).

Your greater danger will be the idiot in the RV that panic brakes in the middle of the road to gawk at something, just about the time you rear end him Cause your gawking to. By the way NO ONE ever seems to use the turn outs to lookeloo That would make way toooo much sense.

Bear spray+1 , Check out the JH gun club while your here, pistol bay, shot gun archery, rifle goes pass 600 yard.

http://www.jacksonholegunclub.net/

FYI State of Wy. National Parks excluded Open carry is permitted, loaded firearms in cars conceal or open is allowed, (concealed refers to on you person), No State statue regarding juveniles & firearms possession including hand guns. State leaves that up to Parents, Novel Concept Huh?

have a fun trip!!

[ball5out]

does this law apply only on national parks? does this apply to state parks as well? Im about to go camping in 2 months too but I plan to bring my gun but just to have it on me while Im within my campsite. I dont really wanna walk around with it since I dont have a ccw. this is still legit right?

[Trailboss60]

Originally Posted by ball5out

does this law apply only on national parks? does this apply to state parks as well? Im about to go camping in 2 months too but I plan to bring my gun but just to have it on me while Im within my campsite. I dont really wanna walk around with it since I dont have a ccw. this is still legit right?

A "sticky" from Ca ccw..

http://www.calccw.com/Forums/where-c...tate-park.html

[Trailboss60]

Originally Posted by .45calRotty

READ this: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20...national_parks

A judge suspended carry privileges in national parks, calrotty....

[Ske1etor]

Originally Posted by VARMONTER

But how many times a year have you needed(used) it?
Probably worth the risk not to bring it.

I have never used mine... doesn't mean I'm going to start leaving it home. I don't agree that it is worth the risk to leave it. I am not condoning breaking the law or anything but it's called concealed for a reason.

[david58]

Originally Posted by NateI

What are the consequences if you get caught in a national park w/ CCW?

Thanks

I think the consequences, in a National Park, would fall in the FEDERAL realm. Not the court system I would like to be in.

Suppose you encounter a ranger that is some east-coast (or pacific NW) fresh grad from a liberal liberal-arts school that taught tree hugging and liberal politics as majors? Do you think you'd get just a wink and be allowed to go on with your ccw? Or, do you think if you printed or the new Ranger saw your gun, that you'd be arrested faster than bin Laden?

As much as I hate not being able to carry in a NP, the consequences could be inconvenient, at best. Remember that little ditty about doing the crime/ doing the time? I will just put mine in the safe in the trunk. Won't like it, but that's what I'll do.

[maximus83]

Originally Posted by david58

I think the consequences, in a National Park, would fall in the FEDERAL realm. Not the court system I would like to be in.

Suppose you encounter a ranger that is some east-coast (or pacific NW) fresh grad from a liberal liberal-arts school that taught tree hugging and liberal politics as majors? Do you think you'd get just a wink and be allowed to go on with your ccw? Or, do you think if you printed or the new Ranger saw your gun, that you'd be arrested faster than bin Laden?

As much as I hate not being able to carry in a NP, the consequences could be inconvenient, at best. Remember that little ditty about doing the crime/ doing the time? I will just put mine in the safe in the trunk. Won't like it, but that's what I'll do.

Absolutely. I may hate this law and think it is incredibly stupid, but disobeying it could have dire consequences for your future. If you are caught, the current administration will probably want to make an example of you. In my state, if you have any kind of brush with the law involving carrying your firearm in a place you shouldn't--even if it's just treated as a misdemeanor--they can permanently revoke your right to carry.

Don't risk it, obey the law and find an alternative. Carry pepper spray, a good knife, and maybe a telescoping ASP baton or something. Not ideal, but a LOT better than nothing.

[Stormin'N]

When they outlaw guns, only bears will have....no thats not right...

[NateI]

Thanks for the replies. I am still debating and will ultimately make my final decision when the time comes. If today, my decision would probably be not to take the chance of getting caught! ...but Murphy's law... oh let's don't go there and think about that.
And also, to add insult to injury, the only gun worth carrying in extreme "outback" would be a large one, that prints easily. Also, I know that one of my boys would go up to a ranger and say, "Hey my dad has one just like that." Here comes a search, or best questions from the Ranger in which I would have to decide whether or not to be honest?????
It's a shame that the only people carrying weapons in some of these places, aside from the law enforcement, are criminals that don't care about the laws in the first place. It seems to me that the government would want ME to carry a gun; but I guess I'm preaching to the choire now. ;-)

[scott53]

NateI - My wife and I visited Yellowstone and Grand Teton NPs in September of last year. It was our first time to both. I concealed carry ALL of the time and was a bit uncomfortable being unarmed. We drove there from PA and I did have a handgun with me in the car and followed the rules on how it was stowed. We stayed at one of the lodges in Yellowstone, and the whole time we were in the park I felt as safe as I ever have from two-legged critters. With the size of most of the four-legged threats at Yellowstone (bears, bison, etc.) the average carry handgun would not do you much good anyway. If you’ve never been to Yellowstone and you read in advance that it is 2.2 million acres in size, you know that it is big but really have no concept of how big until you are in the middle of it. I don’t see inside the park as a high threat area for criminal activity, it is simply too big, too isolated, and there are too few roads for an escape to cause criminals to bother with was the feeling that I came away with. However, if you stay in one of the gateway towns, I have no experience with them and my guess is that their treat level is about the same as any small western towns. I would recommend that you take a good flashlight as when it gets dark at Yellowstone, it gets dark. There are no lights away from the buildings and in the parking lots, not that I would hang out in the parking lots a night because of the possible encounter with four-legged critters.

When we visited Grand Teton NP we stayed at a ranch outside of Jackson and visited both the park and the town. To a first time visitor I had a difficult time identifying where the town ended and the park began. Certain areas were clearly the Parks, others were not so easy to discern. I don’t know what to tell you on that part of your trip. I will say that visits to them were fantastic and I would highly recommend both, regardless of the current ridiculous no-CCW rules.

You are welcome to PM me if you want to discuss this furhter before your trip.

[Sheldonj]

But then again concealed means concealed, if you do not need it who will know and if you do and saved your family's life..... What is that worth to you....

I've been to Yellowstone several times, Bears are dangerous, people get killed by the Buffalo, they fall into scalding hot pools of water, they get lost on a hike, fall off steep cliffs, and yes there is a criminal element that prowls the park and they are far more dangerous than all the other stuff put togeather....

[mac the knife]

Skimmed over the posts above, and a lot of them seem to assume that carrying concealed in a park is for defense against animals. My opinion, is that,"People", are the most dangerous animals in parks nowadays, especially parks along the southern border. That is the reason to carry.

[RickB]

Do rangers carry guns in National Parks?

[DR505]

Originally Posted by RickB

Do rangers carry guns in National Parks?

If they are of the LE Ranger variety they most certainly do.

[ball5out]

so all these laws talk about is that we cannot carry concealed or even opened in federal parks. what if we are just in our designated campsites or inside our tents (which is technically our home for the duration of time we are there) can we not have our gun with us just to protect ourselves/loved ones at night? My question is not whether we can walk around with a ccw but can we atleast keep a gun in our tents as a home?

[RickB]

Originally Posted by DR505

If they are of the LE Ranger variety they most certainly do.

So, if the rangers need guns, how can anyone claim that I don't?

[michael cameron]

If it's a "Gun-Free" Zone,they can HAVE it. I'm sure there are pretty places nearby to visit/camp/carry. I don't make the laws;just try to follow them. I covet my legal rights to carry. Wouldn't want to lose them for something stupid.

REALLY glad I do not feel the inclination to visit a National Park.

Pecos National Wilderness is the only similar place to a National Park I have been. I always carried(when I lived there) a .44 and a .300Magnum rifle. I've heard about and seen enough malevolent parties out in that country. Only black bear AFAIK about in New Mexico.

How bad do you want to go there? What are you gonna do when you're there. NOT get off the beaten path,I hope.

Sad.

[Sheldonj]

Originally Posted by RickB

Do rangers carry guns in National Parks?

Glocks actualy, don't remember which one though (not a Glock fan)...

[castlecrags]

Originally Posted by Sheldonj

Glocks actualy, don't remember which one though (not a Glock fan)...

Actually the last time I spoke with a Grand Teton Ranger LEO he was packing a sig.

[HP12C]

Originally Posted by RickB

Do rangers carry guns in National Parks?

Thank you for that moment of reality.


To the OP - you do whatever you think is right.

To those that say 'it is against the law' or 'they may use such a violation to take away your right to carry forever':

Why do you carry a gun in the first place? To protect what is most precious to you, right? You carry a gun because the stakes are high.

So the stakes are high on all sides now. OK - when was the last time you were made and asked for your permit? Do you have your carry garment / rig / what to do what not to do pretty well sorted out?

What is the reason you carry again?

NPE is just another enviroment. Only a pat down (don't do something stupid to warrant such an action -right?) or a metal detector makes NPE inpenetaible. BGs know this and BGs know that the odds are there won't be any other rule breakers there - that is what makes Gun Free Zones dangerous.

What is the reason you carry a gun again?

Do what you think is right (not necessarily legal - but RIGHT).

Good luck

[mes228]

I do not suggest breaking the law. However, I will tell you the Yosemite is full of bears and not all of them are "good bears". My wife was "charged" by a bear there and if I had been armed I would be in jail. As I would have killed it if I could have. The bear charged her from about 40 yards away, I was about 20 yards away from her. When the bear charged her, I started running toward her also. The bear turned away at the last moment, just a few feet away. I believe the only reason he turned was I was charging toward him. It's total BS to value animal lives over humans. Within half a mile of the bear encounter we met 3 Rangers electronically tracking this problem/once removed/collared bear. They were armed with pump shotguns and a paintball gun. Rangers do not mess with bears un-armed and it's obscene that the public is forced to do so. A national Park is the only place I am not armed. The Judge that stopped Nat. Park carry is absolutely, totally wrong, and should be allowed to pick up the remains of the next victim in National Parks. I'll chip in to have him flown to Alaska or wherever. After this incident we traveled to Alaska and saw many grizzlies with no problem and were un-armed also. I was very uncomfortable and it reinforced my personal belief that idiots run this country.

[scott53]

Many visitors to Yellowstone wear jeans, but I would estimate that about 60-70% wear cargo pants/shorts. An S&W scandium J-frame in an Uncle Mike’s Sidekick holster in the front pocket of cargo pants/shorts is undetectable short of a pat-down, which is very unlikely. I would also estimate that about 30% of the visitors I saw wore some type of vest, so wearing a vest will not cause you to stand out there and it will not scream GUN. And do NOT wear anything that says “gun.” No Colt baseball hat, no NRA t-shirt, stay low-key and blend in. Don’t exceed the speed limit. Don’t wear or do anything to draw attention to your self. Fly below everyone’s radar. Concealed carry means concealed and besides, one of Cooper’s Principles of Personal Defense is the element of surprise. If you go deep cover on carry and dressed like everyone else at Yellowstone, no park ranger will have cause to look at you twice for a CCW. Of course these are just my observations and I of course did not carry in Yellowstone, because that would be illegal and I am a law-abiding citizen that no one would look twice at.