Shenandoah national park firearms rules

Traveler · Aug 19, 2015

It looks like in 2010 they changed the rules to allow you to carry a firearm.

I am wading through the VA rules now.

Anyone have links to the current law for a MD resident to carry in the park?

http://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm

Thanks

GrimReaper · Aug 19, 2015

You need a carry permit that is accepted in VA. I know they accept the Florida permit, not sure what other ones.

Look into open carry laws if you dont have a carry permit. I believe you can open carry in VA.

FYI they still have some signs posted saying that firearms are not allowed. You can ignore those, unless they are on a building. You cannot take a firearm into any of the park offices or stores

DC-W · Aug 19, 2015

If you have a Utah, you're good to go.

Check handgunlaw.us

I carry concealed in the GWNF without issue using my Utah CFP.

Traveler · Aug 19, 2015

DC-W said:
If you have a Utah, you're good to go.

Check handgunlaw.us

I carry concealed in the GWNF without issue using my Utah CFP.

Yeah, I have kept being lazy and not getting my Utah. It is on my list. Need to bump it up higher.

44man · Aug 19, 2015

Traveler said:
Yeah, I have kept being lazy and not getting my Utah. It is on my list. Need to bump it up higher.

Why not get your va non resident permit?

Traveler · Aug 19, 2015

44man said:
Why not get your va non resident permit?

Utah is one ring to rule them all.

Unless you are telling me VA is quick and easy to get.

44man · Aug 19, 2015

Traveler said:
Utah is one ring to rule them all.

Unless you are telling me VA is quick and easy to get.

It was as quick and easy when I got mine.beck I got my va and Fla at the same time with one class.no problem.

crolfe1984 · Aug 19, 2015

I just finished backpacking through that entire park. Met one guy along the way open carrying.

There are indeed tons of sign on every store, campground office, wayside, info center, etc. that say you cannot bring it inside.

Given the amount of bears I ran into I personally wished I had a permit to carry there.

Traveler · Aug 19, 2015

44man said:
It was as quick and easy when I got mine.beck I got my va and Fla at the same time with one class.no problem.

Who did you take your class with? Fees?

pitpawten · Aug 19, 2015

OC is good to go in Shenandoah, just finished a series of calls with VASP, NPS and Shenandoah.

Shenandoah explicitly confirmed that OC is good to go in all the park save for buildings.

I asked about restrooms and they said "Each prohibited building will have a sign on it, so just check the restroom first".

Details on how it breaks down legally (in case you are interested):

Federal: NPS has no prohibition on firearms but defers to Shenandoah for more specific prohibitions:
(link)

(a) None of the provisions in this section or any regulation in this chapter may be enforced to prohibit an individual from possessing a firearm, including an assembled or functional firearm, in any National Park System unit if:
(1) The individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and
(2) The possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the National Park System unit is located.

State: VASP confirms Open Carry is legal statewide but defers to NPS for more specific prohibitions
(link)

May I “open carry” a firearm in Virginia?
A firearm may be carried openly in Virginia except where prohibited by statute. Please refer to Sections 18.2-279 to 18.2-311.2. The Code of Virginia may be searched at http://leg1.state.va.us/000/src.htm.

Park: Shenandoah has no prohibition against Open Carry in the park and defers to no-one (it was great to hear someone actually say something definitive finally : )
(link)

Visitors may possess firearms within a national park unit provided they comply with federal, state, and local laws.

montoya32 · Aug 19, 2015

pitpawten said:
OC is good to go in Shenandoah, just finished a series of calls with VASP, NPS and Shenandoah.

Shenandoah explicitly confirmed that OC is good to go in all the park save for buildings.

I asked about restrooms and they said "Each prohibited building will have a sign on it, so just check the restroom first".

Details on how it breaks down legally (in case you are interested):

Federal: NPS has no prohibition on firearms but defers to Shenandoah for more specific prohibitions:
(link)

State: VASP confirms Open Carry is legal statewide but defers to NPS for more specific prohibitions
(link)

Park: Shenandoah has no prohibition against Open Carry in the park and defers to no-one (it was great to hear someone actually say something definitive finally : )
(link)

Great info. :thumbsup:

swinokur · Aug 19, 2015

The Credit Card act of 2010 had a rider on it that changed NPS rules. Nat. Parks now follow the rules of the state the park is in. In VA, with a valid permit you can CC. As mentioned, OC is legal in VA therefore legal in the Park.. The law also states thta carry into a building regularly occupied by federal employees and POSTED is illegal.

I found an old FAQ on another forum that may prove useful.
.
.

Traveler · Aug 19, 2015

Thanks for the links and assistance guys.

swinokur · Aug 19, 2015

There is a couple guys complaining over on the DC forum that VA is running over 90 days for VA NR permits. They are apparently swamped with applications.

FYI.

ETA-my last renewal last Sept. took 75 days and I had to complain to them my old permit had expired even though I applied for renewal before the 60 day advice they gave on their web site.

44man · Aug 19, 2015

Traveler said:
Who did you take your class with? Fees?

chuck early at freesate militia firearms

google him and call and ask.

he is in calvert county

Mdeng · Aug 20, 2015

We do classes that cover VA, FL and Utah combined on a regular basis in Waldorf. Let me know what fits your schedule.

Traveler · Aug 24, 2015

Mdeng said:
We do classes that cover VA, FL and Utah combined on a regular basis in Waldorf. Let me know what fits your schedule.

Please PM me with scheduling info. It is time to get this done.

It was nice being in free America and doing OC pistol in a holster.

DC-W · Aug 24, 2015

Traveler said:
Please PM me with scheduling info. It is time to get this done.

It was nice being in free America and doing OC pistol in a holster.

Good deal

Utah doesn't play with turning around the permit either. I think I had it in hand in about a month from the time I took the class to getting it in the mail.

swinokur · Aug 24, 2015

I got mine right on the cusp of 60 days but that was over 5 years ago. the renewal online took less than two weeks.

davsco · Aug 24, 2015

regarding permit time, for my VA RESIDENT CCW (Loudoun county), the renewal took 2-3 weeks, received last week. no idea if that means anything for non-resident app or renewal but it's one data point.

Shenandoah national park firearms rules

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