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OC an AR-15 in National Parks

PT111

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This picture is from the link that Mike posted about the AOL poll. The picture is of people looking over into the Grand Canyon. If you visit this location you can OC as far as I know but the question is can you OC an AR-15 or should you OC and AR-15 even if it is perfectly legal.How about one that is classified as a handgun. Even if is it legal you are going to get some stares and comments so is it a good idea and will you be doing it?



1266507470938.JPEG
 

cscitney87

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Well how many people in the past 50 years have casually strolled up the edge of the Grand Canyon, 100 other visitors around, with an AR-15? Probably not a single case. Very funny to think about though.. Anyway if it's legal I wouldn't sweat it- as long as you keep your wits about.
 

Pace

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You are not wrong: it is CC only.

What is weird, is that the law banning CC in parks was signed by Reagan and then overridden by Obama.

kwikrnu wrote:
I thought NP carry had to be concealed handguns. I could be wrong and haven't paid much attention to it.
 

flintlock tom

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Pace wrote:
You are not wrong: it is CC only.

What is weird, is that the law banning CC in parks was signed by Reagan and then overridden by Obama.

kwikrnu wrote:
I thought NP carry had to be concealed handguns. I could be wrong and haven't paid much attention to it.
Wrong.
The new ruling applies state law to the National Parks as far as firearms carry is concerned.
If the state allows open carry then open carry is allowed in the park. If concealed carry is allowed with a permit then the same applies in the park.
 

tekshogun

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flintlock tom wrote:
Pace wrote:
You are not wrong: it is CC only.

What is weird, is that the law banning CC in parks was signed by Reagan and then overridden by Obama.

kwikrnu wrote:
I thought NP carry had to be concealed handguns. I could be wrong and haven't paid much attention to it.
Wrong.
The new ruling applies state law to the National Parks as far as firearms carry is concerned.
If the state allows open carry then open carry is allowed in the park. If concealed carry is allowed with a permit then the same applies in the park.

+1, I pointed out that in another thread else where, there is nothing explicitly prohibiting or even regulating the open carry on the federal level, it defers to state.
 

Pace

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Then someone needs to inform the media and even some of the firearms press.

You are right, I just visited the National Parks office, my apologies. Sorry for speaking out my ...
 

VA Lawyer

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Why not? Should you abstain from exercising your right because doing so might offend precisely those who would gladly limit that right?

Of course, you don't want to act like a jerk and try to stir up trouble and antagonize. So, when OCing you should conduct yourself in a professional manner so as not to feed the fire of those who would prefer to see guns only in the hands of police. If OCing an AR-15, this might mean being extra polite to people who ask questions and having well thought out responses to the likely questions you'll receive. Remember to keep a cool head if people try to provoke you.
 

GLOCK21GB

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VA Lawyer wrote:
Why not? Should you abstain from exercising your right because doing so might offend precisely those who would gladly limit that right?

Of course, you don't want to act like a jerk and try to stir up trouble and antagonize. So, when OCing you should conduct yourself in a professional manner so as not to feed the fire of those who would prefer to see guns only in the hands of police. If OCing an AR-15, this might mean being extra polite to people who ask questions and having well thought out responses to the likely questions you'll receive. Remember to keep a cool head if people try to provoke you.
Yes, I agree. I like this well thought out response.....

Sir, Why are you carrying that Machine gun ?! ( well thought out response >> ) Because It's perfectly legal & I so chose to :)

Any other questions ?
 

Pace

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Personally, I am very, very careful how I act, for a variety of reasons. Besides being an established business person, writer, involved in chaplaincy, I feel that I should always act in an appropriate manner. When I carry a firearm, even mroe so.

But I 100% support anyone's right to be a jerk, and carry.


VA Lawyer wrote:
Why not? Should you abstain from exercising your right because doing so might offend precisely those who would gladly limit that right?

Of course, you don't want to act like a jerk and try to stir up trouble and antagonize. So, when OCing you should conduct yourself in a professional manner so as not to feed the fire of those who would prefer to see guns only in the hands of police. If OCing an AR-15, this might mean being extra polite to people who ask questions and having well thought out responses to the likely questions you'll receive. Remember to keep a cool head if people try to provoke you.
 

shad0wfax

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I have every intention of open-carrying in National Parks here in WA. What about National Recreation Areas though? Are those already ok to carry like National Forests are?

As for the open-carry of a rifle in a National Park, depending on the Park, why not? I can make a very good case for it in the Olympics or in the North Cascades here in WA (Both NP's) as my M1A is a darned bit more effective at stopping a foul-tempered black bear or cougar than my .45 ACP would be.

When the threats are 4-legged and not 2-legged a rifle or a shotgun (slugs) may be a much better option.

Open-carry of my M1A in a place like the Appomattox Court House might not be the most fitting place to OC a rifle... (or maybe it is... heheh) This also assumes that National Historic Parks fall under the National Parks rule and I'm not so sure that they do.
 

GLOCK21GB

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shad0wfax wrote:
I have every intention of open-carrying in National Parks here in WA. What about National Recreation Areas though? Are those already ok to carry like National Forests are?

As for the open-carry of a rifle in a National Park, depending on the Park, why not? I can make a very good case for it in the Olympics or in the North Cascades here in WA (Both NP's) as my M1A is a darned bit more effective at stopping a foul-tempered black bear or cougar than my .45 ACP would be.

When the threats are 4-legged and not 2-legged a rifle or a shotgun (slugs) may be a much better option.

Open-carry of my M1A in a place like the Appomattox Court House might not be the most fitting place to OC a rifle... (or maybe it is... heheh) This also assumes that National Historic Parks fall under the National Parks rule and I'm not so sure that they do.
M1A :D I just bought a National Match.
 

shad0wfax

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Glock34 wrote:
M1A :D I just bought a National Match.
Cool! OC of a National Match in a National Park. :lol:

Mine's a black LPO (Liberal-Pisser-Offer) with a 16" barrel. I think it will really torque some of the left-coasters off when I OC it in the Olympic National Park next time I'm over that way.
 

GLOCK21GB

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shad0wfax wrote:
Glock34 wrote:
M1A :D I just bought a National Match.
Cool! OC of a National Match in a National Park. :lol:

Mine's a black LPO (Liberal-Pisser-Offer) with a 16" barrel. I think it will really torque some of the left-coasters off when I OC it in the Olympic National Park next time I'm over that way.
ah, the SOCOM. nice choice.
 

Grapeshot

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Glock34 wrote:
Grapeshot wrote:
IMO wrong forum for long gun OC advocation.

Yata hey
pistol / rifle > both guns:cool:.
OpenCarry.org

A pro-gun Internet community focused on the right to openly carry properly holstered handguns in daily American life.

Yata hey
 

deepdiver

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Under the first amendment you certainly have the right to walk into Walmart, stand behind a mother and her 2 young children in the check out line and say, "Bleepin, g**d*** bleepin, mother bleepin line, bleepin mother bleepin cashier at bleepin Walmart buncha bleepin bleepers" but most people in polite society would think you are a crude jerk for doing so.

In a similar vein, walking up to the scene as depicted in the OP with an AR15 slung over your shoulder is similar in that sure, you may have a right to do it, but it is needlessly provocative and even people who are knowledgeable of and supportive of your 2A rights are probably going to think you are an attention seeking jerk. Having a handgun on your hip that is part of your normal carry along with your pocket knife, wallet, cell phone, etc walking up on that situation is (should be) just normal with a regular Joe carrying personal/family protection as he does every day, just like LEO and others carry in our society with the acceptance of the population.

To me that is quite different from say carrying a slung AR-10 at a back country trail head as you are heading out on an overnight hike into an area with large predators.
 

PT111

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That is why I posted the picture of the scene I was talking about. I think deepdiver is right on with his comparison but I have this thought. With all the press covering the change would they look at whoever is carrying and think "He is legally carrying and whoever made that law is crazy". To shock the public with an AR could do more harm than good. Now having a rifle at a trailhead would probabaly be more likely to bring out PETA than the antis but at an overlook is a little different in most minds. Maybe the publicity surrounding the change is good as it does inform some people that OC is legal.
 

altajava

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I have seen a comparison before that applies this discussion, perhaps in these forums. Generally speaking, handguns are defensive tools and rifles are offensive tools.

For the most part, the people of this forum are not trying to be offensive.

my 2c
 
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