Corps Of Engineers carry ban lift may be in progress

I just noticed, per GCO's e-mail, that GCO is advocating for no gun restrictions of any kind on the open fields and waterways of Corps-managed land. Only inside certain security-sensitive buildings and facilities could be off-limits, but only with a new Rule that Corps might propose and pass. This current proposal calls for a flat-out repeal of the Corps' current gun restrictions.

While that proposal is simple and seems easy to enforce, I think a better plan would be ask for a two-part rule: Permit holders who have a license that generally allows carry in public areas of the state in which the Corps land is located may carry handguns at any non-secure part of the Corps property. Persons without a license are limited to vehicle / tent/ RV carry, so that the federal rule will mirror the laws of most states (hardly any states require a license to keep a gun in your home, in your vehicle, or at your place of business).

Persons carrying long guns outdoors away from an established camp site may be detained briefly to see if they are lawfully hunting, or on suspicion of unlawful hunting / poaching if reasonable under the circumstances, but openly carrying long guns shall not be per se unlawful nor shall it require a state-issued license.

None of the above is in my letter to the Corps, but I think that's a more reasonable scheme than a full repeal of all gun restrictions on Corps land.

I want to give park rangers the authority to discourage poaching, including stopping and questioning people who look like they're hunting even without the ranger seeing them take aim at game in the field.

And I want to give park rangers and other federal officers the ability to stop people from carrying handguns in public without any license or permit, which, although it may be a state law violation, isn't going to be enforced as a Corps rule unless the Corps specifies it and publishes it as a Rule.

on the other hand

On the other hand, the Congressional over-ride of the National Park Service gun ban was a complete repeal that did not add any license requirement, unless such a license was required by the State in which the park is located.

It just says if you're not a prohibited person and you are carrying a type of firearms in a manner that is not unlawful per state law, it can't be a violation of any federal park rule either.

So, the feds are deferring to State law on what guns may be carried in which manner, EVEN IF that means each national park may have different laws, and even different parts of the same National Park may have different laws where the federal park extends over a state's boundary line into another state.

See the CARD act, H>R. 627, enacted in 2009 (and signed by Pres. Obama), specifically section 512 (b).

So, whatever has been working for National parks for the last 8 years ought to be good enough to apply to Corps of Engineers land now.

bangclickugh said:

Slightly off topic, but how are you carrying while riding? Plan to carry on my bike once my CWP gets here but not a ton of info out there on holsters/packs/etc.

Click to expand...

I haven't been carrying at the ones on COE property. I carried at Mt Tabor today (completely legal there) in an OWB Blackhawk Serpa on my belt. I had an untucked shirt covering it, but that didn't matter at all. I used the Serpa because it has positive active retention, and I crash somewhat frequently, especially at Mt Tabor. Tricky trails there, with big roots, lots of rocks - both big and loose ones. When I go down, I don't want my gun falling out. I also have a Hill People Gear chest holster (operates like a fanny pack on the chest). That works really well too.

I am not a fan at all of ever carrying off-body, for several reasons. I never, ever leave a gun in my vehicle, unless I legally have to, and then I keep it in a locked box cabled to my seat rails. If I am in the vehicle, the gun is on me. Same way on a bicycle. Too many negative possibilities when the gun is separate.