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Article published Dec 15, 2008
New gun regulations for Smoky Mountains take effect in January
From staff reports
New regulations allowing people with concealed weapon permits to carry weapons in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will go into effect in January 2009.

The U.S. Department of Interior published new regulations that govern the carrying of concealed weapons in areas administered by the National Park Service and on U.S Fish and Wildlife Service refuges on Dec. 5. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park individuals who hold valid permits to carry a concealed weapon issued by the states of Tennessee or North Carolina, or by states which have reciprocal weapons carrying agreements with Tennessee or North Carolina, may also carry those weapons within the park.

Under regulations now in effect weapons can only be transported into the park in motor vehicles when they are rendered temporarily inoperable or are packed, cased, or stored in a manner that will prevent their ready use.

“As with the current regulation, park rangers will be strictly enforcing the new regulation,” said Kevin Fitzgerald, deputy superintendent at the GSMNP.

Further information on the new regulations and the rationale for their issuance can be found at: http://www.doi.gov/issues/Final%20Rule.pdf.

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