please help?

[glocklp]

I know this question has probably been asked a million times, but im still confused. I heard that you can shoot in any national national park, so lets say im up at Araoahoe national park up I70. Can i just park the car in a seclude area pull out the AR and start shooting? ( of course with proper backing, and safety in mind ). Is this correct? Thanks my friends

[ldmaster]

There are national parks and national forests. Arapahoe is a national forest.

The possession of a firearm in any national forest or national park is a no-no. Discharge of a firearm is also verboten. That being said, there are designated areas where shooting IS allowed, you can get their locations by scanning here or by calling and asking the NPS or BLM or CDOW (they have a few throughout the state).

CCW's are a different thing, but that would only apply to a pistol and only for CCW purposes, not for practice.

[motorep]

National forests and national parks are two very different things. It's generally ok to shoot on national forest land, with the safety precautions you mentioned. Some areas may be posted for no shooting allowed. National parks, no.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

National forests and national parks are two very different things. It's generally ok to shoot on national forest land, with the safety precautions you mentioned. Some areas may be posted for no shooting allowed. National parks, no.

This ^^^^ Its ok in national forest! Just make sure you're at leaste 50 ft either side of road from the center line. But be prepared for the DOW officer!! Been there and done that! They will read you the riot act and check every thing. Cross you're I's and dot you're T's.

[DFBrews]

There are national parks and national forests. Arapahoe is a national forest.

The possession of a firearm in any national forest or national park is a no-no.

actually national forests are fine to have firearms in. typo i hope?

[cwripinz]

Copied from the Colorado State Patrol Website:

Is it Legal to Carry a Weapon in Colorado National Forests?

While visiting National Forests in Colorado, you may carry a weapon. However, in addition to state laws, you must comply with Federal Regulations pertaining to the use of a firearm on National Forest System lands.
A firearm may not be discharged in the following National Forest areas:

1. Within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; or
2. Across or on a Forest Development road or an adjacent body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge; or
3. Into or within any cave. [36 CFR 261.10 (d)]

So... there you go... follow the above and whip it out and crack it off.

Now... with that said... many Forestry Officials, County Mounties, Local PD's and the Public At Large are not aware of these regulations. I know, I know... hard to believe, right? Well you had better BELIEVE IT!

I was cited in a National Forest (Off of Road 550 outside of Buffalo Creek before the fire) because some putz could HEAR my SKS and it was frightening his F#%*$ing Prescious Brats. I was over 400 yards and two valleys away from them. Long story short... I SPANKED 3 Forest Service Pukes (I say "Pukes" because they should have known better), 6 Jeffco Sherriffs Deputies (copped a pretty bad 'tude with me... almost went after badges and cash had they not Apologized in Open Court) and a Federal Prosecutor (Judge threatened him with Contempt) in FEDERAL COURT here in Denver. Never did get them to charge the putz that harrassed me... which is what the regs state is what SHOULD have happened.

So, go ahead... but be ready to stand up for your rights... out in the field (They {Jeffco Sherriffs} threatened to confiscate my weapons and engrave them with the case number... warned them that that would get quite expensive as I would be going "all out" to correct this egregious behavior... that they had better be certain of their actions. Don't be a smart-ass, but do not "roll over" either.) and IN COURT!!! SIX Sherriffs Deputies and NOT ONE Had Stones Enough, Out In The Field, To Defy The Feds AND Get His Fellow Deputies To FOLLOW THE LAW and not the emotional outburst of some idiot who hasn't bothered to teach his children that the National Forest Is For Everyone AND Has Many Uses... INCLUDING the DISCHARGING of FIREARMS.

Serve & Protect? WHOM?!?

Sorry if any Law Enforcement Types Out There Are Offended By My Disparagements or Vitriol Concerning Their Brothers in Uniform. But when Y'all Screw Up, It Reflects Badly on ALL of Y'all. Best thing to do? NEVER EVER LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN.

[Hoopty]

Tell us how you REALLY feel! lol

[cwripinz]

Tell us how you REALLY feel! lol

There is nothing quite like being cuffed, searched, harrassed, having weapons drawn on you, cited, threatened, publicly ejected from an area, dragged into court and, generally, being treated like a scumbag in front of a couple of dozen strangers, for absolutely no valid reason, to generate just the tiniest bit of "ill-will".

Try it... you won't like it.

Bonus: I now have a Record of Federal Charges Filed Against Me that Includes a Weapons Charge which Delays any Legitimate Weapons Purchase Background Check while the CBI figures out that:
A) I was Not Guilty
B) It was over 20 Years Ago
C) Their Records are HORRIBLY Outdated and Incomplete

You "Uni's" out there need to be more careful about Fg up peoples lives... it is what generates a certain level of, what ya' call, "animosity". I get reminded of it with EVERY Federal Transaction I Do... Imports... Customs... Getting My Passport Renewed.

So.. yeah... I won't hold back on this one. They Screwed Up and I Keep Paying The Price For It!

[ldmaster]

Same for me, "weapons charge" from Jeffco. Case dismissed with predjudice, case SEALED.

Every time I do a background check it comes up.

When i say, "hey, it's sealed nobody is even supposed to know it exists" - the answer is invariably, "It's sealed against everybody but US". And they're right, the law governing a sealed record doesn't say destroy it, and the "except for valid law enforcement purposes" clause that lets them keep a copy of it.

Oh, and the FBI doesn't EVER seal an NCIC record, once you have an NCIC record you have it for life, or 99 years, whichever comes first.

Welcome to the computer age!

I have little respect for hoplophobes and the general ilk that get their idea of their civil rights from watching Law and Order.

On the occasions I hear about someone making a complaint against an LEO for being overzealous or misapplying a particular law I have to laugh, in general you are encouraged to "push the line". The line is that division between lawful behavior by an LEO and unlawful behavior. As long as a cop says he did something in a good-faith belief that he was not violating the law, he's inviolate. That doesn't mean ignorance of the law will keep him/her safe, but it does mean that if he's acting under color of authority and with good faith that his actions are meant to execute his duties in a lawful manner, he can pretty much do whatever it takes.

[cliff]

very intresting answers here,,I shoot all the time in pike national forest. have been approached several times by forest rangers while shooting. they just say hello and have a quick look around and say enjoy yourself and thanks for not shooting into trees. guess I have been lucky. they have all been very decent.