Open carry on public lands

Summary#

This bill changes one federal criminal rule to allow people to possess firearms on many federal lands and facilities when state law allows it. It adds an exception to section 930 of title 18 of the U.S. Code so that possession on certain federal units is treated as a lawful purpose if the person is not otherwise barred from having a gun and is following the state law where the land is located. The bill lists which federal agencies’ units are covered and limits the change to areas that are open to visitors.

  • Main change: People may lawfully possess a firearm in certain federal lands and facilities owned or leased by specific agencies if they are not otherwise prohibited by law and if they follow the state law where the land lies.
  • Agencies listed: Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Forest System, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park System, National Wildlife Refuge System, Tennessee Valley Authority, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Location limit: The rule applies only to parts of those units or facilities that are open to visitors or invitees.
  • Scope: The bill amends the federal criminal prohibition (section 930) to add this exception. It does not itself describe permits, storage, or rules about using a firearm.

What it means for you#

  • Visitors to covered federal lands: If you visit a unit run by one of the listed agencies and the part you are in is open to visitors, you could possess a firearm there when state law allows, provided you are not otherwise barred from gun possession by other law.
  • People prohibited from owning guns: This bill does not change background checks or federal prohibitions (for example, people convicted of certain crimes). Those people remain barred.
  • State permit holders and residents: Whether you may carry on these federal lands will depend on the state law where the land is located. State rules about open or concealed carry, permits, or age limits would control under this bill’s text.
  • Federal land managers and staff: Agencies listed may need to update guidance, signs, and safety rules to reflect that some visitor areas now allow firearms under state law. The bill does not say how agencies should handle buildings, law enforcement areas, or special closures.
  • Law enforcement: Federal and local officers will need to apply both federal and state rules when deciding whether possession in a particular place is lawful. The bill does not describe enforcement procedures.
  • People using non-public parts of these sites: The bill applies only to areas “open to visitors and invitees.” It does not clearly cover closed areas, restricted work zones, or administrative buildings.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

  • The bill text includes no fiscal note or budget estimate.
  • This change could create administrative costs for federal agencies (for example, updating signs, staff training, and visitor information), but the bill does not estimate those costs.
  • There is no cost estimate for law enforcement training, court cases, or enforcement changes that might follow from the new rule.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill appears intended to allow lawful firearm possession on many federal public lands when state law allows it.
  • A possible argument for the bill is that it aligns federal criminal rules with state firearm laws for public outdoor areas.
  • Supporters may argue it lets lawful gun owners carry for recreation (like hunting) or self-defense on federal lands that are open to the public.
  • The bill could be seen as reducing criminal penalties for people who follow state law but who would otherwise be covered by the federal prohibition in section 930.

Opponents' View#

  • One concern is that the bill does not clearly say how it interacts with other federal rules or agency safety regulations. It amends one federal criminal statute but does not explicitly override agency policies.
  • The bill’s phrase “open to visitors and invitees” is vague. It may be unclear which specific places within a unit are covered (for example, visitor centers, ranger offices, or boat ramps).
  • This could create confusion for visitors and officers about where guns are allowed, especially where state law differs across nearby jurisdictions.
  • The bill does not address carrying inside federal buildings that may be located on or near covered lands, or rules on storage, discharge, or hunting seasons.
  • There is no provided estimate of enforcement or administrative costs, which may be an implementation concern.