Camping rules; no firearms?

[Slyk Willy]

My wife and I are scoping out places to use our newly purchased travel trailer for weekend get-a-ways and such.
I'm finding that many (most, maybe all) have a "no firearm" policy written in their "code of rules/conduct".
Is this something that is nationwide or am I in an area that camping facilities band together for such rules?
I'm an EDC kind-a guy and plan on NOT spending time in a campground that denies my rights, but accept that these are decisions from the owners of the properties.
We've seen this at KOA, and so far, many private places.
Thoughts?

 

[CoolLogic]

I used to stay at a camp ground that had the same rule. The campground was mostly surrounded by water which was great for swimming, fishing and boating but also had several duck blinds. I rented one of the blinds from the campground for two seasons. Yes, I stayed at the camp ground while hunting. I met the owner one time and asked him about the no firearm rule. He said it was an insurance requirement and if someone was carrying a gun in a manner that one of his managers didn't like that the manager had the right to ask to ask that person to leave. At this particular campground the rule was only enforced as needed. I guess you can't enforce a rule if you don't have it.

 

[Mobuck]

The place where we worked in 2010, had a strict "no guns" policy which I disregarded completely. I suppose the owners were smart enough to realize this but considering how tree huggy, PETA(ish) they were, I just didn't let them see me armed. I assure you I carried a handgun every morning when I made the rounds making sure no "wildlife" (2 or 4 legs) was running amok or hiding in the brush.
I'm certain several of the campers were armed but as long as they were discreet, I didn't feel it was any of my concern.

 

[WAYNO]

This is interesting, and I'm thinking this might be a local phenomenon.

I have never seen a NO FIREARMS sign at a campground, public or private, anywhere. But then again, as critical as we might be of Oregon politics, you'll almost never see a no firearms sign anywhere here, other than the obvious government buildings and/or some hospitals.

I had shared last year, after driving thru Kansas, I was appalled to see so many NO FIREARMS signs, everywhere we stopped.

This no guns thing is very territorial.

WAYNO.

 

[rob-c]

Concealed carry is well concealed carry....

 

[cas6969]

All in all the rule is probably a good idea, probably keeps knuckleheads from being just that. "You mean inside the campground isn't a good place to go plinking?" :shock:

Inside your camper is your home, their rules don't apply.

 

[vito]

I can't even imagine going somewhere in my little travel trailer and spending a night in a campground WITHOUT a defensive firearm. While I am not a frequent camper, I have yet to see a "No Guns" sign of any kind in my limited travels/camping, not that I would pay it much attention if I saw it. For me, the bigger limitation is that I will not travel and camp in any of the states where my mere possession of a firearm within my traveling home would make me a felon, i.e. NY, NJ, MA, MD, CT, RI.

 

[contender]

While I'm a hearty supporter of being able to go places with my firearms & avoid places where they want to restrict them,, I also never advocate breaking the law.
If you are in a state where a business can post their property against firearms,, and you have a CCW,,, you could become a felon if discovered. Now,, if that same state recognizes that your camper is your home,,, and has an exception in the written law about that,,, then follow the letter of the law.
If I were into camping in a campground with a contained camper,,, I'd look into the state laws first,,, to see what is & isn't legal.
Next,,, I'd contact any POTENTIAL campground & ask politely why they have a restriction IF,, IF,, the state legally allows it.
I won't risk losing my guns, my rights, & maybe some jail time just to spend money with a business that doesn't want me. I'd search for other places to camp, that are firearm friendly.

 

[powder smoke]

Never ever ran into a campground that had a no firearms policy.
Mostly camped in NH Vt and Me tho. ps

 

[Big Old Boy]

No guns in the campground in PA where we spend our summer but the owners know we all have guns and just ask that we don't let everyone know. I set on the deck cleaning guns and no one cares.

 

[Pat-inCO]

We've seen this at KOA, and so far, many private places.
Thoughts?

A few.

Many of the nimrods I've seen at various camp grounds are the type that
I would not feel comfortable having them playing with a gun. Many of
those will follow the rules and either leave their guns in their campers,
or some, not bring them. Good for them, and my peace of mind.

Second, how many camp grounds have enough room in them for said
nimrods to do ANY reasonable shooting? Thinking here of adequate back
stops, shooting lanes, etc. - - - - I can think of ONE. It's at Raton NM.
You know the NRA 30,000 acre one, and I believe it is restricted to NRA
members for shooting, isn't it?

If you are bound and determined to shoot where you camp, have you
thought about checking with the Forest Service in the area you are
contemplating? They may have some low density camp sites that would
accommodate your wishes.

 

[WIL TERRY]

There is a really nice campground in Coshocton, OH that has it's own range where you can shoot to your hearts content . Been there twice and last time we saw it it was just a hellofafine place to camp and relax.
And so it goes...

 

[Salmoneye]

Never ever ran into a campground that had a no firearms policy.
Mostly camped in NH Vt and Me tho. ps

Ayuh...

Never seen it in northern New England...

 

[jadek44]

Never ever ran into a campground that had a no firearms policy.
Mostly camped in NH Vt and Me tho. ps

Ayuh...

Never seen it in northern New England...

I guess you never read the rules for Scussett, Salsbury? Beach. Unless they have changed, WHICH I doubt.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Well I have been to many campgrounds around the US while doing CAS. Most have a no guns policy in the sign in stuff KOA included. After the shoots most of the time I clean the guns out in the open with no problem from the owner or others.
In fact our base of operations for our Rugerfest was at a KOA for many years. Ya think there might have been a few guns in camp

 

[Ale-8(1)]

The big park where we "truck camp" has a lengthy posted list of "NO-NO" activities. One of them prohibits the discharge of a firearm within the park. That's all. So I take along a "packin' pistol" and wear it in a low-profile holster behind my hip when we hike the remote trails. I figure if it became necessary to "discharge" my pistol, that would be the least of my problems.

There's a pretty nice public range about a half-mile outside the park entrance, if you need to shoot. Pretty nice arrangement, I think.

 

[gunzo]

Ale, PM sent.

 

[bogus bill]

I would think they really are saying "No shooting". Most normal people would take for granite that many people have a gun along in their camper for protection. I spent several years working for the NPS. A big percentage of campers probably aren't into gun`s and are out their to spend a few days "in nature" with their kids BBQ`ing etc. Not too many people want to hear their "one with nature experiences" shattered by bullets ricocheting and idiots giggling.
Once I and my boss came around a curve in Yosemite National Park. Couldn't believe what we were seeing. A older lady was feeding a coyote at a turnout. Another car had pulled over and a wild eyed tourist was "Injuning" around the side of it with a shotgun intending on getting a bead on the coyote. The coyote was a regular begger we had seen at other times and this was "his corner".
Boss man pulled right up to him between him and the coyote. All right fella, give me the gun! Aint no body gonna take muh gun! The fight was on! The boss and him were having a tug of war with the shotgun! I got out and got in it too and we got the shotgun. The man had his wife and several kids with him and I hated them seeing that scene. Some city dudes go nuts when they camp. Another time I and a GF were camping (or rather had just pulled over to sleep for the night) on the Kern river in California. We were passing through on my Harley and happened to hit it by chance when it was a big get together for some 1%er outlaw biker clubs, Hells Angel`s, Hessians, Galloping Goose`s etc. Boom box's, laughing, hollering etc. The next morning a body was found less than 75 yards from where we were trying to sleep!
A deputy told me a local Indian was fighting for his life and he didn't think he would make it! If I ran a campground I also would put up a sign, "No shooting" but would expect customers would have guns with them. I would tell them or put out a brochure of close places where it is legal to shoot.

 

[nekvermont]

Never ever ran into a campground that had a no firearms policy.
Mostly camped in NH Vt and Me tho. ps

Ayuh...

Never seen it in northern New England...

I guess you never read the rules for Scussett, Salsbury? Beach. Unless they have changed, WHICH I doubt.

Yah, but aren't those beaches in Massachusetts, that's southern New England. :lol:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Ale, PM sent.

PM replied to.

:mrgreen:

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I'm with Bogus Bill, who doesn't carry a gun of some sort when traveling or camping. Just idiots do I reckon. I've mostly camped in Alaska and Canada, and never have seen a sign that says no guns, and I don't think any one cares. But lots of people care when some fools decide to make the campground into a firing range with out the benefit of berms. With the no guns signs out, people at least know to be discreet with their guns. In Canada it's obviously rifles only which is fine too. I always had a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington for bears and they have plenty. Just keep it handy. Even carried my 44 mag in a shoulder holster in Denali park under a sweater you would have to be blind to know there wasn't something under the sweater. Be discreet, concealed means concealed. Wait till you get to a gun range to do your shooting. People don't know you, any more than you know them or know how much training they have. Boils down to be considerate to others.

 

[kmoore]

Most camp grounds I see have signs with many rules. They are just that rules. No alcohol allowed is 1. No guns allowed is another. Now than if I am camping and traveling with my RV and in it may have alcohol in it and it will be consumed inside the RV. I am not a drunk so, no one will ever know I had a beer. I have a gun or 2 with me. The same applies, no one will ever know unless I do need to defend myself. I have never been asked about those things but, will lie like bad guys do to me if asked. "No sir, no alcohol or guns in the RV". I do make sure my hat "I am the NRA" stays hidden also. Maybe some states have laws against that, that is different but, I have a HR218 card to cover the guns in that case.

 

[Colonialgirl]

My Dad use to ALWAYS carry a 22lr revolver with them when he and my Mom crossed the country from CA to PA ever summer. (Dad was a school teacher and had inherited the family property in PA when his Mom (my Grandma) passed away)
He never had to use it but it was there and loaded.

 

[exavid]

Yes indeed, one should remember the operative word is "concealed".

 

[Slyk Willy]

Thanks for the in-put. Yes, I carry CONCEALED, just don't want to risk losing my CPL if an oops happens. Mostly there are no SIGNs that restrict, just in the paperwork that they want you to sign. Guess I'll have to take my chances or stay home.

 

[M. HALL]

Most have covered the "concealed means concealed" part of the question.

I am not sure I would want to patronize a camp that does not honor lawfully carrying campers. However, there are times that you may just be passing through and that camp site is what works. For planned vacations you can usually find a site that isn't a problem. As some have said is it worth spending the night in jail while things get worked out on exactly what happened? Part of the confusion comes when signs have no legal weight behind them due to being the wrong text, size, language or even print color. For such an example see Texas: https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/faqs/ 42. What are the new requirements for a sign posted under §30.06 or §30.07, Texas Penal Code? and the next few FAQ's.

In some states if the owner of the camp asks you to leave for whatever reason and you do not you could be charged with trespass. Add in carrying a revolver/pistol and it could complicate the issue. If you are camping alone or camping with the family it would weigh heavily on finding a new site or risking a one night campout and pulling out early in the morning.

Happy trails.

Matt

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I think one thing we all need to remember is that we who participate on this website are mostly "gun folks" to some degree on another, and we look at carrying guns considerably differently than the "mainstream" folks do. So to assume one way or another about how "they" might react to seeing a gun is pointless. If we look at it realistically, we should just realize that concealed is likely the best way to go. If nobody knows you have a gun, nobody can make a big issue of it and get "management" involved. It just ain't worth the hassle unless you enjoy creating a scene.

 

[bogus bill]

I worked for the national park service 1960/1961. Sometime back 5 to 10 years ago they got real at whatever level and allow guns where they didn't when I worked. About in the 1990`s I was driving through Death Valley Np and saw a couple rangers shaking down some people at the gate and as I was driving slow past them I seen a Ruger Black Hawk laying on the vehicle. They appeared in trouble. Of course I dont know what caused the alert, either them telling the rangers uhh yes, we have one in the trunk or also could have been the 90 day wonders over stepping themselves. (Thats what the seasonal college kids were called that were given the smokey the bear hats when I worked years ago). Now this vehicle was heading in, not out where a possibility would have been they were shooting and had been reported, so that wasn't the case. All of these scenerio`s could be avoided with common sense along with knowing basic laws and what your rights are if some over eager badge heavy types brace you. Now I spent 35 years as a security guard for the largest defense aircraft company. Thats a different deal where vehicles going in have already agreed as part of employment not to bring guns on the property.

 

[ChiefMuzz]

I think we also tend to jump to conclusions when we read this. Those contracts are legal papers designed to mitigate the owner of risk. So of course they are going to include "No-No" statements because if something happens then they can say "I legally am not responsible if someone broke the rules". It's almost necessary in certain environments to do that, because if not, you are risking your business in the litigious society we live in. I wouldn't assume they are infringing your rights (especially since it is their business) or are anti-gunners. I would think like most things, especially with camping and outdoors, it's likely to not be the case. You are probably safe with the "don't ask, don't tell" approach. Or you can talk to the owners and managers directly and get it straight from their mouth. If I owned a campsite I would probably have a no firearms clause in a contract as well, and I would likely never bother anyone about it or consider enforcing it unless they were causing me problems. Again it is my business, I can cover my butt and decide to selectively enforce things as I choose.
Just something to think about.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Chief, that would likely work just fine on a privately-owned park like a KOA or something, even if it were a "chain" like KOAs are.

When ya get into the fed-operated places, I for one would be verrrry careful about the whole thing. I don't want to ruin a nice weekend playing "I know my rights" with the Smokey-the-Bear folks.

JMHO

:mrgreen: