New law changes outlook on trip to Denali

Shortly after I graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and before I was scheduled to start work for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Sport Fish Division on the North Slope, I made a trip down to Denali National Park to do some backpacking, camping, and just generally unwind from the stresses of the just-finished school year.

Since I planned to be off the beaten path, I had a revolver packed in my gear in case a bear might visit my camp uninvited or other two-legged predators appeared. I took the gun knowing I was violating a National Park Service (NPS) regulation which banned firearms in national parks.

Andy, a friend from the university, had a job as a seasonal ranger for the NPS at Denali National Park. I mentioned to him I planned to bring the revolver.

After all, who intentionally goes backpacking in remote Alaska without the means to protect themselves from bears and other assorted dangers?

Remember, this was way before bear spray even existed and bear bells make lousy defensive weapons.

After hearing my plans, Andy told me if I fired the revolver while inside the park, I’d better be able to show bite marks up to my shoulder or I would go to jail. I figured I’d rather be alive to face the consequences of having a firearm in a national park than be legal and dead!

The trip went well and there were no encounters requiring taking the revolver out of the backpack. However, in the intervening years, I have not revisited Denali National Park or any national park for anything other than a drive-through in my vehicle — no backpacking, no camping, and no hiking. When outdoors, I routinely have a firearm within my reach and I wasn’t going to knowingly break the law again.

As of last Saturday, my self-imposed exile from our fabulous national park system has been lifted. Effective on that date NPS regulations prohibiting concealed firearms has been changed to allow citizens with “right-to-carry” or concealed carry permits (CCP) to carry concealed firearms in national parks in states which issued or recognize the permits.

I have a State of Alaska issued CCP.

Existing regulations regarding the carrying of firearms remain otherwise unchanged, particularly limitations on poaching and target practice and prohibitions on carrying firearms in federal buildings.

Legally licensed individuals may transport and carry their firearms for lawful purposes within the parts of a national park that fall within the boundaries of the state in which these public lands are located.

Actually, this ruling applies to other U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) agencies besides the NPS. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also included, and the new ruling applies to wildlife refuges as well as national parks. By making this change, the DOI is simplifying the patchwork of regulations that control public lands managed by different federal agencies. Prior to this change, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands allowed the carrying of concealed firearms, while DOI managed lands did not.

This change came as a result of many states enacting new firearms policies for their respective residents over the last 20 years. Currently, 48 states have passed legislation allowing for the lawful possession of concealed weapons. A majority of U.S. Senators, along with several ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives asked the Secretary of the Interior to update regulations which prohibited carrying concealed weapons and which conflicted with state laws regarding concealed carry.

Under the federal regulations, only those individuals authorized to carry a concealed weapon under state law are allowed to carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges in the state in which the national park or refuge is located.

Under Alaska law, a person who may legally possess a firearm can carry it concealed without a concealed carry permit, as long as they follow all the laws which pertain to carrying a concealed weapon and only carry the firearm within the State of Alaska. In addition, Alaska has a concealed carry permit which is recognized in several other states.

The news releases I have seen on this topic are worded such that things are a bit blurry regarding how Alaska’s approach to handling concealed carry firearms fits into this rule change. My interpretation of the federal rule verses Alaska’s concealed carry laws is that only those individuals with a state-issued concealed carry permit may carry concealed in national parks and wildlife refuges. Those without a CCP may not carry concealed.

To be sure, I would advise asking a federal law enforcement officer familiar with national park and wildlife refuge regulations for an interpretation. This is not an area where you guess at legal interpretations — the consequences of a mistake are too great.

Not surprisingly, the anti-gun groups, especially the Brady Campaign, have already filed lawsuits against the DOI seeking to have the new ruling struck down. The “anti’s” want to block the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families while on DOI lands.

Protection of the Second Amendment will remain a never ending battle!

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.