WA state CPL holders - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

krazichinaman · 07-22-2007, 03:20 PM

I was wondering if in WA state (king county) we are allowed to open carry? I was in a knife shop in Tacoma when I noticed that another customer had a glock holstered to his belt. I figured he was a plain clothes LEO but when I asked the owner after the customer left, she informed me that he wasn't an LEO and they were in fact allowed to open carry in Tacoma.

Also, if we were to say go camping or somthing similar are we allowed to open carry? Yesterday, I went to Mt. Rainer to go hiking with my gf and let me tell you, 10 miles of intensive hiking + a bag + IWB holster do NOT mix.

Thanks for any replies.

*edit this really did not happen. It is all hypothetical.

ChrisChris · 07-22-2007, 04:46 PM

You have a lot of research ahead of you.

Open carry is technically legal in Washington but the bottom line is that you are asking for trouble. My understanding of the law is that you are allowed to do it but if it causes concern for others who see you it then becomes an issue. I have not researched this issue thoroughly because frankly, I dont see open carry as any sort of advantage when I am in public. There are many open carry fans who can site the laws but I am not interested in being a test case like so many of them are. For more info, see www.opencarry.org

Your hike to Mt. Rainer while carrying a concealed pistol was illegal. There is a well known law that applies to all National Parks ( however, NOT National Forrests) that firearms are absolutley not permitted. This means that even though you are allowed to carry a concealed pistol, your weapon is still not allowed per federal law. There is an on going political fight with this law but right now if you are uncomfortable not having a weapon while hiking or camping I would suggest you visit a National Forrest instead. There are many nice areas in our state.

krazichinaman · 07-22-2007, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the link and the heads up. Mainly I would only open carry if I were camping or things in that nature. When I'm just out and about locally, I conceal it.

ChrisChris · 07-22-2007, 05:30 PM

No problem. The National Park law is something not too many people know of. Here in Washington posted signs have no legal backing unless they are locations that we all know we cant carry, such as bars and court houses. Be sure to read up on the federal locations that do not allow legally concealed weapons.

WAZX3DRVR · 07-22-2007, 08:45 PM

Open-carrying in Tacoma?? Almost as foolish as doing so in Seattle......jeez.

krazichinaman · 07-22-2007, 11:02 PM

Opencarry.org has ALOT of info there. Thanks again for the link. Like i said, I dont plan on OC unless hiking etc in the wilderness.

Collander · 07-22-2007, 11:10 PM

great link on the open carry page

Tard · 07-23-2007, 07:04 AM

Everyone I know here in WA state discreetly carries in National Parks when hiking out of the main areas. Too many nut jobs, no enforcement - you are on your own.

Gravel · 07-23-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tard

Everyone I know here in WA state discreetly carries in National Parks when hiking out of the main areas. Too many nut jobs, no enforcement - you are on your own.

I gotta agree with that..

I can honestly say that being a life time Washingtonian, I cannot recall ever seeing someone other than a LEO O-C.

But up in the woods, be prepared to run into some nut job hippies that will be nothing but happy to make your life hell by reporting some wacko running around the hiking area with a gun.. Next thing you know, you will be investigated for the death of that mother and daughter last year..

Just find a different style holster or maybe a fag bag.

bscman · 07-23-2007, 11:49 AM

Just thought I'd let you all in on a little more info.

While National Parks do not permit concealed carry, Washington State Parks DO...while you won't find nearly as much back-country type camping/hiking in a State Park...you can legally carry concealed with the proper permit.

National Parks do not allow firearms of ANY kind...in fact, they interpret "firearms" to also include C02 powered air rifles. If you are planning to hunt and camp in a national park--think twice. I wouldn't even consider it. I've worked with L.E. Rangers in the North Cascades in the past...and they have ZERO tolerance for firearms.
As you can imagine, they get a lot of hunting traffic going over N. Cascades Hwy, so they come across firearms somewhat frequently.

However, hunting/concealed carry/shooting is legal in National Forests...and there are quite a few Nat'l Forests in the Northwest, so avoiding National parks is pretty easy to do.

07-22-2007, 03:20 PM	#1
krazichinaman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Federal Way, WA Posts: 143	WA state CPL holders I was wondering if in WA state (king county) we are allowed to open carry? I was in a knife shop in Tacoma when I noticed that another customer had a glock holstered to his belt. I figured he was a plain clothes LEO but when I asked the owner after the customer left, she informed me that he wasn't an LEO and they were in fact allowed to open carry in Tacoma. Also, if we were to say go camping or somthing similar are we allowed to open carry? Yesterday, I went to Mt. Rainer to go hiking with my gf and let me tell you, 10 miles of intensive hiking + a bag + IWB holster do NOT mix. Thanks for any replies. edit this really did not happen. It is all hypothetical. __________________ My daily carry XD .45 ACP service in Flat Dark Earth Trijicon Night sites Grip tape on left thumb in-let 1 Extra mag Galco Stow-N-Go IWB holster Blackhawk CQC (Serpa) Blackhawk CQC Mag Pouch Speer Gold Dot .45 Auto 230 gr. GDHP (27 rounds of happiness) Last edited by krazichinaman; 07-23-2007 at 12:07 AM.*

07-22-2007, 05:18 PM	#3
krazichinaman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Federal Way, WA Posts: 143	Thanks for the link and the heads up. Mainly I would only open carry if I were camping or things in that nature. When I'm just out and about locally, I conceal it. __________________ My daily carry XD .45 ACP service in Flat Dark Earth Trijicon Night sites Grip tape on left thumb in-let 1 Extra mag Galco Stow-N-Go IWB holster Blackhawk CQC (Serpa) Blackhawk CQC Mag Pouch Speer Gold Dot .45 Auto 230 gr. GDHP (27 rounds of happiness) Last edited by krazichinaman; 07-23-2007 at 12:07 AM.

07-22-2007, 08:45 PM	#5
WAZX3DRVR XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 492	Open-carrying in Tacoma?? Almost as foolish as doing so in Seattle......jeez. __________________ S&W 638/GLOCK 20/SIG SP2009/XD45 4" Dark Earth/Mossberg Mav88 12 gauge/Ruger SingleSix .22LR "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free". -Ronald Wilson Reagan Myspace

07-22-2007, 11:02 PM	#6
krazichinaman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Federal Way, WA Posts: 143	Opencarry.org has ALOT of info there. Thanks again for the link. Like i said, I dont plan on OC unless hiking etc in the wilderness. __________________ My daily carry XD .45 ACP service in Flat Dark Earth Trijicon Night sites Grip tape on left thumb in-let 1 Extra mag Galco Stow-N-Go IWB holster Blackhawk CQC (Serpa) Blackhawk CQC Mag Pouch Speer Gold Dot .45 Auto 230 gr. GDHP (27 rounds of happiness)

07-23-2007, 07:04 AM	#8
Tard XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Machias, WA Posts: 3,861	Everyone I know here in WA state discreetly carries in National Parks when hiking out of the main areas. Too many nut jobs, no enforcement - you are on your own. __________________ If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the precipitate.

07-22-2007, 04:46 PM	#2
ChrisChris XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 158	You have a lot of research ahead of you. Open carry is technically legal in Washington but the bottom line is that you are asking for trouble. My understanding of the law is that you are allowed to do it but if it causes concern for others who see you it then becomes an issue. I have not researched this issue thoroughly because frankly, I dont see open carry as any sort of advantage when I am in public. There are many open carry fans who can site the laws but I am not interested in being a test case like so many of them are. For more info, see www.opencarry.org Your hike to Mt. Rainer while carrying a concealed pistol was illegal. There is a well known law that applies to all National Parks ( however, NOT National Forrests) that firearms are absolutley not permitted. This means that even though you are allowed to carry a concealed pistol, your weapon is still not allowed per federal law. There is an on going political fight with this law but right now if you are uncomfortable not having a weapon while hiking or camping I would suggest you visit a National Forrest instead. There are many nice areas in our state.

07-22-2007, 05:30 PM	#4
ChrisChris XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 158	No problem. The National Park law is something not too many people know of. Here in Washington posted signs have no legal backing unless they are locations that we all know we cant carry, such as bars and court houses. Be sure to read up on the federal locations that do not allow legally concealed weapons.

07-22-2007, 11:10 PM	#7
Collander XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Snohomish, WA Posts: 734	great link on the open carry page

07-23-2007, 11:49 AM	#10
bscman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 147	Just thought I'd let you all in on a little more info. While National Parks do not permit concealed carry, Washington State Parks DO...while you won't find nearly as much back-country type camping/hiking in a State Park...you can legally carry concealed with the proper permit. National Parks do not allow firearms of ANY kind...in fact, they interpret "firearms" to also include C02 powered air rifles. If you are planning to hunt and camp in a national park--think twice. I wouldn't even consider it. I've worked with L.E. Rangers in the North Cascades in the past...and they have ZERO tolerance for firearms. As you can imagine, they get a lot of hunting traffic going over N. Cascades Hwy, so they come across firearms somewhat frequently. However, hunting/concealed carry/shooting is legal in National Forests...and there are quite a few Nat'l Forests in the Northwest, so avoiding National parks is pretty easy to do.

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