NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT
Vol. 17, No. 8 02/26/10

Right-to-Carry Takes Effect In National Parks

On February 22, a new law took effect that applied state firearms laws to national parks and wildlife refuges across America.

The implementation of the new law, which the National Park Service (NPS) has planned for since passage of H.R. 627 last May, has so far been without major problems. NPS management reports that it has worked with the 493 individual parks, promoting a consistent message on several key points:

* Under the new law, every park is subject to all the firearms laws of the state (or states) where the park is located.
* Park visitors must know and obey state laws, including knowing which state laws apply in parks (such as Yellowstone) that cross state boundaries. (For information on state laws, go to www.nraila.org/gunlaws.)
* The new law affects firearms possession, not use. Laws regarding hunting, poaching, target shooting or any unlawful discharge remain unchanged.
* It will remain unlawful to carry in certain locations, under a separate law that prohibits possession of any firearm in a “federal facility.”