VALLEY FORGE, USA—(OiP)— The combination of Valley Forge National Historical Park and Washington’s soldiers carrying weaponry throughout the of the army camp in winter 1777 is certainly a common, past visualization of the American Revolutionary War.

The site of this wintry encampment has since become a 3,600 acre National Historical Park almost 200 years later, attracting an estimated 1.3 million tourists each year to it’s breathtaking landscape with seemingly endless, rolling hillsides accented with lush trees and wide-open fields.

The gun laws have evidently changed throughout the past few centuries, too, but now gun carrying rights won’t be limited to mere volunteers who emulate and reenact Washington’s historic rifle-carrying soldiers. The National Park visitors themselves are now permitted by law to carry guns on the premises.

Yes, a new bill passed by Congress into law by President Obama prohibits national parks and other federal recreation areas from banning visitors from bringing firearms with them while they tour, hike, bike or camp that went into effect here at Valley Forge National Historical Park this past Monday.

The birthplace of the American spirit is now expected to see visitors toting with guns, including handguns, rifles, semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, and AK-47s. Pennsylvania’s 23 other national parks and historic sites are also allowing visitors to exercise their 2nd amendment rights out in the public terrain.

What the law says

“Protecting the right of individuals to bear arms in the units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System — the secretary of the Interior shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm … in any unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System.”

Areas Included

  • National parks
  • Monuments
  • Battlefields
  • Military parks
  • Historical parks
  • Historic sites
  • Lakefronts
  • Seashores
  • Recreation areas
  • Scenic rivers
  • Trails

OnlyInPhiladelphia for the most part has received some pretty positive feedback on the new gun ban lift in National Parks:

“One step closer to repealing the 2nd Amendment.” said Tammy Velasquez, 43, a retired member of the U.S. Airforce and a conservative voter.

Joni Hopkins-Schmitt originally from Broadus, MT responded to our query about the new gun law in Nat’l Parks and also OKed the lift on the long-standing ban.

“It is a really good thing. Our rights have been steadily eroded for a hundred years, but we are starting to reverse this.” said Hopkins-Schmitt.

According to the King of Prussia Courier, the Valley Forge Park staff and the Park Rangers have been preparing for five years anticipating the change in law, and hoping to educate their visitors on what they can and cannot do on the property, i.e. guns are permitted throughout the trails in the park, but not into the Visitors Center.

For those in support of the new gun law, you may send your special thanks to an amendment last year that the U.S. Congress attached to a credit-card reform bill; this attachment requires parks and refuges to conform to state gun-carry laws.

While the law was just given the green flag on Feb. 22nd, it is important to be patient with the park rangers with the new enactment. Eventually, signs are expected to be posted throughout many of these parks.

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