Carry on Natchez Trace --

Its February.. is it legal now? For the Natchez Trace that is...

nonnieselman wrote:Its February.. is it legal now? For the Natchez Trace that is...

I believe that the new law does not take effect until 22 February. Once it does, it will mirror state law regarding carry in parks. In other words, if your state permits legal carry in state parks, you will be able to legally carry in national parks in that state.

I think MS currently forbids carry in state parks. If that is the case, even when the new law goes into effect, you would not be able to legally carry on the Parkway in MS. Stupid stuff, eh? I believe one of the current changes being proposed to MS firearms laws is to allow carry in state parks. That would resolve the problem on the Trace as well, at least after 22 Feb.
Gonzo

Question? Why would MS laws against carrying in a State park even apply to the Natchez Trace or Vicksburg N.P. since they are both part of the National Park system? If they aren't State parks law against carry in State parks don't apply. FED law trumps State law everytime, don't it?


I see Gonzo's post now it wasn't there when I typed mine, that answers my question.

bubbat wrote:Question? Why would MS laws against carrying in a State park even apply to the Natchez Trace or Vicksburg N.P. since they are both part of the National Park system? If they aren't State parks law against carry in State parks don't apply. FED law trumps State law everytime, don't it?


I see Gonzo's post now it wasn't there when I typed mine, that answers my question.

It is goofy, indeed, but that is the way the new federal law is written. If your state permits carry in state parks, you will be legal in federal parks in that state. If your state forbids it, you will not be legal in federal parks in that state. The same thing currently applies to National Forest Lands.
Gonzo

Are you certain that current MS law bans carrying in state parks? Just curious.

spyderhead wrote:Are you certain that current MS law bans carrying in state parks? Just curious.

Yes

(13)

No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize any person to carry a concealed pistol or revolver into any place of nuisance as defined in Section 95-3-1,Mississippi Code of 1972; any police, sheriff or highway patrol station; any detention facility, prison or jail; any courthouse; any courtroom, except that nothing in this section shall preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his courtroom; any polling place; any meeting place of the governing body of any governmental entity; any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof; any public park unless for the purpose of participating in any authorized firearms-related activity; any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms; any portion of an establishment, licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, that is primarily devoted to dispensing alcoholic beverages; any portion of an establishment in which beer or light wine is consumed on the premises, that is primarily devoted to such purpose; any elementary or secondary school facility; any junior college, community college, college or university facility unless for the purpose of participating in any authorized firearms-related activity; inside the passenger terminal of any airport, except that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal if the firearm is encased for shipment ,for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; any church or other place of worship; or any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law. In addition to the places enumerated in this subsection, the carrying of a concealed pistol or revolver may be disallowed in anyplace in the discretion of the person or entity exercising control over the physical location of such place by the placing of a written notice clearly readable at a distance of not less than ten (10) feet that the "carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited." No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize the participants in a parade or demonstration for which a permit is required to carry a concealed pistol or revolver.

Per the Natchez Trace website:
http://www.nps.gov/natr/parkmgmt/laws-and-policies.htm

Mississippi State Law Synopsis (Mile Post 1-310)
Any Firearm that is legal to possess under state law may be carried in your personal vehicle while traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway.
You may not possess a handgun on your person outside of your vehicle within the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Alabama State Law Synopsis (Mile Post 310-344)
Possession of a concealed firearm in the State of Alabama is prohibited without a valid state permit. This prohibition includes possession inside and/or outside of your personal vehicle.

Tennessee State Law Synopsis (Mile Post 344-444)
Any firearm that is legal to possess under state law may be carried in your personal vehicle while traveling on the Natchez Trace Parkway, possession of handguns requires a valid state permit.
Any firearm that is legal to possess under state law may be carried on your person while outside of your vehicle, handguns require a valid state permit, while within the boundaries of the Natchez Trace Parkway.

I read today that the version of the bill that passed no longer required that state law regarding parks be observed while on NPS parklands. In other words, the state law no longer matters and carry is legal in any National Park. Several people confirmed this to me, but I'm still trying to do some research to determine if that is actually true. Apparently it was a change in wording from the original bill.
Gonzo

Glad to here that.