Washington State carry question

[roar]

Is it legal to carry in state parks? Specifically, a regional wildland park (Cougar Mountain). The trails can be kind of long, and it is actually a pretty cool park, considering how isolated you can be in the trees. Anyways, it would be nice if I was able to carry.

I tried looking through the RCW, and searched on Google, but I couldn't really find an answer. I didn't see anything mentioning parks, or wildland parks in RCW 9.41 so I am assuming its legal, but I want to make sure.

Also, I am assuming you can follow the same guidelines of "fearing imminent grievous bodily injury or death" if you encounter an aggressive cougar or possible rabid animal, while walking the trails?

[PaulBk]

Concealed (with CPL) is definitely OK. Open carry, while technically legal, may get you unwanted attention. And shooting four legged critters can get you in way more trouble than two legged ones. There was a local news story recently (too lazy to reference) that indicated that a homeowner was being charged for protecting his family from a bear that was charging the glass slider in his back yard. :crazy:

-Paul

[roar]

Cool, thanks for the response. :cool:

(Why would you shoot a bear through your glass door?)

[WA-K9]

I would actually look at the RCW. It's online and easy enough to research. And I agree, open carry is legal but the sheeple freak. We get calls from sensitive types occasionally when they see some perfectly law abiding citizen open carrying. Only time we took any enforcement action was the idiot, already drunk, who decided it would be cool to show his buddies his new pistol, while sitting at the bar. It was with the case and unloaded but a pretty dumb thing to do. Small lecture on how being stupid and drunk can have adverse consequences and told him to get a ride home. I mean, new guns are cool but come on.....

[BigFameOne]

I live in Seattle, and was under the impression open carry was NOT legal. I carry CCW only and I am licensed to do so.

[Boris Bush]

I OC every time I hit the trails in WA, Alot of people see it and alot of people just ignore it.

[roar]

I have a CPL and I wasn't planning on open carrying. It would be kind of fun to do sometime though. I would prefer to avoid any comments from stinky hippie/democrat types that I run into on the trail.

[BigFameOne]

I don't know whether or not I would OC, I like concealed carry but I would consider it.

[Habu]

I have a CPL and I wasn't planning on open carrying. It would be kind of fun to do sometime though. I would prefer to avoid any comments from stinky hippie/democrat types that I run into on the trail.

Well I've run into a few of those on the trail!

Never made any comments about my weapons though..........'cause they didn't see 'em!:supergrin:

[3/325]

I live in Seattle, and was under the impression open carry was NOT legal. I carry CCW only and I am licensed to do so.

Rest easy, friend. Open carry is 100% legal in Washington State; no CPL required. In addition, the State Constitution expressly forbids all local jurisdictions from enacting any gun law more restrictive than state laws.

[BigFameOne]

Rest easy, friend. Open carry is 100% legal in Washington State; no CPL required. In addition, the State Constitution expressly forbids all local jurisdictions from enacting any gun law more restrictive than state laws.

thank you man. For those of you that DO carry open, what is your rig? It would certainly have to be more comfy than ccw, although I have gotten my rig to a place where it is quite manageable.

[Boris Bush]

When in the woods and if I have a back pack on I carry in a leg holster that rides fairly high, more like a very low belt holster so it is more comfy than the kool aid drinkers kool look of letting it flop just over the knee.

If I do not have a pack on I will carry it in a Serpa paddle holster of just carry it in my concealed rig......

[3/325]

thank you man. For those of you that DO carry open, what is your rig? It would certainly have to be more comfy than ccw, although I have gotten my rig to a place where it is quite manageable.

I think the difference for most OCers is that they tend to carry outside the waistband (which feels a lot more comfortable on my bony frame). I have no data to support this, it's just my own impression.

Here's the Washington State section of a site dedicated to open carry:
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum55/
TONS of useful info regarding our state gun laws (open carry AND concealed).

[roar]

Thanks for the link, that looks like an informative forum