Federal Gun Laws
The following is a list of federal places for which gun laws apply:
Federal Buildings – Any building owned, leased or rented by the Federal Government. This includes buildings within National Forests which are property of the federal government. This also includes parking lots adjacent to, or part of, the facility if the entity owns or has control over the parking lot, and the parking lot is posted with “No Firearms” signs. The lot has to be posted under Federal law if they do not wish to have firearms present.
Federal Courthouses – All federal courthouses are off limits for carrying. This also includes parking lots adjacent to, or part of, the facility if the entity owns or has control over the parking lot, and the parking lot is posted with “No Firearms” signs. The lot has to be posted under Federal law if they do not wish to have firearms present. So, if you receive a jury summons for a Federal trial, leave your firearm at home.
National Forests – There is NO law prohibiting carry in national forests. However, carry is NOT permitted in buildings within national forests which are property of the Federal government. States control the carrying of firearms in national forests within their state. So it is perfectly legal to carry in the Allegheny National Forest in north central Pennsylvania. You just cannot carry into Federally controlled park buildings.
National Parks – There is NO law prohibiting carry in national parks. However, carry is NOT permitted inside ranger stations or visitor centers of these parks. States control the carrying of firearms of national parks within their state. So it is perfectly legal to carry in Jellystone to visit Yogi and Boo-Boo. You just cannot carry into the ranger station to say hello to Ranger Smith.
Sterile Areas of Airports – The sterile area of an airport is anything behind the TSA checkpoints. Individuals may not have a weapon on or about their person or accessible property (e.g. suitcase) when entering the sterile area of an airport or when attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted. This means if you accompany a traveler to the ticketing area prior to departure or baggage claim area after arrival, you can carry. But for departures, you must give them a kiss goodbye and not follow them as they approach the TSA baggage check area.
Federal Prisons – All Federal prisons are off limits, including the Federal country club prisons. This also includes parking lots adjacent to, or part of, the facility if the entity owns or has control over the parking lot, and the parking lot is posted with “No Firearms” signs. The lot has to be posted under Federal law if they do not wish to have firearms present.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – The Corps builds and runs flood control and navigation dams. The Corps has jurisdiction over the dam site and usually all waters backed up by the dam (e.g. the lake behind the dam). It is illegal to carry anywhere on Corps property unless written permission has been obtained from the District Commander. Firearms can be unloaded and secured in a vehicle while on Corps property.
National Cemeteries – It is illegal to carry on the grounds of national cemeteries, presumably out of respect for the heroes interred there. This also includes parking lots adjacent to, or part of, the facility if the federal government owns or has control over the parking lot, and the parking lot is posted with “No Firearms” signs. The lot has to be posted under Federal law if they do not wish to have firearms present.
Military Bases – All military bases are Federal property. Each base may have slightly different policies, however, visitors who arrive at a military base with firearm(s) must leave them with the guards at the gate. If the base does not have storage capabilities at the gate or the armory, you could be turned away. The only people who can carry guns around the base, concealed or otherwise, are on-duty military police, who handle routine security. They then have to return their firearms to the armory when their shifts are over. There are exceptions for local or state police officers who come to the base on official business. The base commander can make other exceptions, for which each base’s individual rules must be checked. There is one exception. Active duty military police, criminal investigators, and Marine Corps law enforcement program police officers may conceal carry their personally owned weapons while off-duty on base as long as they comply with the 2016 DoD Directive, titled “Arming and the Use of Force”.
Rented Offices – Any part of any building that the federal government has rented for office space or a federal workforce, etc., just their offices or the part of the building the federal government has control over is off limits. You can carry in the rest of the building if state or local law allows. So if the federal government rents the entire third floor of a four story office building, you can carry on floors one, two and four. Floor three is off limits.
Post Offices – Postal regulations prohibit the possession of firearms in Post Office buildings, parking lots, or any property owned by the Post Office. So if you need stamps, leave the gun at home. Or if you absolutely want to carry, then use “stamps.com” or buy the stamps in a grocery store.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM…no, not the terrorist group, the government group) – On most BLM lands, if you can legally carry in the state the BLM land is in, you can carry on BLM lands. If it is not legal to carry on those BLM lands, the BLM will have the lands posted to that effect. Any building on BLM lands operated by the Federal government is considered a Federal property and carrying is not allowed. The exceptions where BLM prohibits firearms are the San Pedro Riparian Zone in Arizona, the Wallace Conservation Forest in Idaho, and Red Rock National Conservation Area in Nevada.
Indian Reservations – Carry on Indian Reservations is controlled by Tribal Law. Visitors to those reservations must check with each tribe before carrying on the property. Some Indian tribes consider Federal and State highways running through their property as being under their control. This should also be verified with the Tribe. So while this is not absolute, should you see yourself driving on federal or state highways through Indian reservations, contact the tribe beforehand or lock your firearms in the trunk until you are through the reservation.