Places You Don’t Think of as Off Limits for Concealed Carriers
Are you sure that the places you go, you’re able to carry concealed? Some websites that provide information about the gun laws in your state may not cover everything. So when you’re unsure of a place that you’ll be carrying concealed, you should do a little research before you visit to avoid any legal problems or misunderstandings.
You will find websites that talk about each state and the laws surrounding carrying concealed, but some places may not get mentioned that you may have never thought were considered off limits to firearms. Depending on the site you visit, they may forget to mention some of these locations. I am not sure why these are missed, but I guess they may think that its common sense since these are federal laws or laws of a sovereign nation and we should know about them. But if you’re new to the world of concealed carry, you may not know all the laws pertaining to where you’re unable to carry a firearm, even when you do have a permit to carry.
While traveling around the US, there are many places we visit and never think twice if we can carry a firearm on the premises. Since there may be no signs to inform us (no firearms allowed), your state may say that such signs are not enforceable by law (which can be confusing) except for certain places like Federal and state grounds. I’ll talk about a couple of places that I have visited and I am glad that I took the time to research them. Otherwise, it would have been considered a crime.
I was visiting Lake Superior one year and there was a long concrete peer with a small lighthouse on the end of it. That was it, just a very long slab of cement with a rotating light on the end of it to warn ships of the danger of the rocks in the bay. There were no signs about not carrying a firearm, but it was built by the USACE. Which at the time meant nothing to me, but it stands for the United States Army Corp of Engineers, which is a Federal agency under the Department of Defense. They build locks and dams, canals, flood control systems, design and construct military facilities (like for our armed forces), work with our eco system and much more.
Did you know that its illegal to carry a firearm on the Army Corp of Engineers property? So that manmade peninsula in the middle of nowhere, with no staffing, but only an automated light system is off limits to firearms. It is Federal land. No joke. So if you’re traveling and decide to visit a lock and dam, or any property owned by the USACE, you will have to lock up your firearm. The parking lot that you’re parked in may not allow you to have firearms since it’s Federal land. So be careful on what you do.
I was also invited by a friend to a recreational center which had a Native American name on it. What I didn’t know was that it was on Tribal land. I verified by asking the receptionist at the facility if we were on Tribal property. There are no signs outlining where the property boundaries were or signs about firearms. You can easily mistake it for any other facility. So one side of the street was US territory and the other side of the street was Tribal territory. Then about 1/4 of a mile down the road was the casino, which is also on Tribal land. If you didn’t know, you may not carry a firearm on American Indian grounds. Each state is different and each tribe have different laws. You may need to get permission from them first before you are allowed to carry on their property.
You may also be driving on a road which is part of a reservation and you may also not be allowed to have firearm in your vehicle while traveling on that road owned by the Indian reservation. If you are new to the area, or just traveling through, make sure you know what the laws are. Sometimes its very hard to find the information online for these tribes. You may have to call them directly for information.
If you’re law enforcement, you will also have to check with the Tribes to determine if you can carry or not. Some Tribes state that you have to be an on-duty officer and also have jurisdiction to be armed with a firearm. Some tribes are okay with having a firearm in a vehicle as long as it is unloaded and locked up. Some state that it has to be in the trunk. Others are okay with it elsewhere as long as its locked up and others are not.
Here’s another that you may not have thought about, AMTRAK. You are not allowed to carry concealed on their trains. You are allowed to check your firearm, but you have to follow their rules, almost like the airlines. Now why do you suppose that you can carry on other trains, but not AMTRAK? AMTRAK was created by Congress (Rail Passenger Act) in 1970. They are also federally funded. Amtrak was created by Congress in the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 and incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1971.
Do you visit the post office to purchase stamps, check your PO Box, mail packages, or pick up your held mail? The United States Postal Service is a government agency and if you’re armed, you are on Federal grounds and this can quickly get you Federal time in prison. People have been arrested even for moving their firearms to the trunk and locking them up in the parking lot. In some cases, even walking on their sidewalk around the facility is considered Federal grounds. If you are armed, you’ll have to park away from the post office. Even when they are in malls, it’s still Federal’s grounds when you enter the post office. I could not find any information on the distance from the entrance (like a walkway in front of the entrance) if this is considered federal grounds or not. So be aware if you are near or inside the post office, it is off limits to firearms.
If you are unsure of the location you will be visiting, do your research ahead of time so you don’t get into trouble. Carrying does become complicated when your dealing with State, County, Federal and a Sovereign Nation. We have so many governments and so many laws, it can easily become confusing. If you want to be doubly sure, talk to your attorney.
Be safe out there, be the responsible firearm owner and always follow the “Concealed Carry Creed”!!!