Individual states have specific gun laws that pertain to the right to carry and these permit laws fall into unrestricted, shall-issue, may-issue, and no-issue categories. Some states, such as Alaska and Wyoming, have relatively relaxed gun control laws and do not require a permit to carry a concealed handgun. Other states, such as Maryland and New York, are on the other end of the gun control spectrum and have "may-carry" permit laws that apply a strict set of criteria to applicants. However, there are public places that have a "no guns allowed" policy even for gun owners who hold legal right-to-carry permits.
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Below are six public places where state laws are pre-empted by federal law and no guns are allowed:
1. Federal court facilities: According to
FindLaw, federal court facilities include "the courtroom, judges’ chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, offices of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal, probation, and parole offices, and adjoining corridors of any court of the United States."
2. United States post offices: Although, as reported by
CNN, a U.S. District Court ruled in 2010 that guns are allowed in post office parking lots, no guns are allowed inside post office buildings. Federal post offices have been labeled by the U.S. government as "sensitive places" where guns can be legally banned.
3. Federal prisons: Possession of firearms "by all persons not specifically authorized" is prohibited in federal prisons and this no guns allowed policy includes adjacent parking lots.
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4. Ranger stations and visitor centers in any national forest or wilderness area: As of February 2010, states that allow concealed carry also allow carry in national parks or national wildlife refuges. However, as ranger stations and visitor centers are considered federal buildings, no guns are allowed inside these facilities.
5. National cemeteries: No guns are allowed on the grounds or adjacent parking areas of national cemeteries. According to the
U.S. Government Printing Office, the legal U.S. code for security and law enforcement in national cemeteries states, "No person while on property shall carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, except for official purposes."
6. Aircrafts: According to the Transportation Security Administration, federal law prohibits the carry of firearms on aircrafts including but not limited to realistic replicas, compressed air guns, pellet guns, and flare guns. The no guns allowed ban extends to carry-on luggage. According to the
TSA, "Travelers may only transport unloaded firearms in a locked, hard-sided container as checked baggage."
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws of your state and destination before travel.
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