December 8, 2008 9:18AM # Concealed Carry in National Parks By [David Rittgers](https://www.cato.org/people/david-rittgers) --- SHARE The Department of the Interior has [concluded](http://www.doi.gov/news/08_News_Releases/120508.html) its rulemaking and will allow those with state-issued concealed handgun permits to carry in national parks and wildlife refuges. This is a victory for self-defense nationwide. People find themselves victims of predators in state and national parks, of both the [two-legged](http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/03/22/hilton_0323.html) and [four-legged](http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2002/2002-08-05-03.asp) varieties. The new rule should take effect in mid-January. In addition to providing for lawful self-defense, this new rule will prevent citizens from unknowingly breaking the law. Driving with a valid concealed carry permit becomes illegal if you turn on to a road on federal property such as the Blue Ridge Parkway. No notice that your state permit is invalid on this particular road? [Too bad, you’re a criminal](http://www.vawd.uscourts.gov/OPINIONS/URBANSKI/MO.708PO024GETTIER.PDF). Good riddance to bad law and bad policy. This comes in the wake of the invalidation of the District of Columbia’s gun ban with the *Heller* decision, detailed in [Brian Doherty](http://www.reason.com/staff/show/132.html)’s new book [*Gun Control on Trial: Inside the Supreme Court Battle over the Second Amendment*](http://www.catostore.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&method=&pid=1441412). The Cato book forum is available in video and podcast formats [here](https://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=5333). ##### Related Tags [Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) [![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).