WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and nine of his Republican colleagues introduced legislation that would bring parity to gun owners using public lands. The Recreational Lands Self Defense Act would restore Second Amendment rights of individuals recreating on lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

“We must recognize that the right to bear arms should include Army Corps of Engineers lands,” said Senator Tillis. “The law currently states that law-abiding gun owners may carry in National Parks and National Forests, but does not extend these same protections to lands owned by the Army Corps. I am proud to work with my colleagues to correct this problem and ensure that the Second Amendment is protected on public lands.” 

Under current law, an individual may carry a firearm on lands managed by the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture, including National Parks and National Forests, as long as it is consistent with state law. The Recreational Lands Defense Act would treat Army Corps land in the same manner, allowing parity on nearly 12 million acres of Army Corps recreation lands. It would not change current legal prohibition of guns in federal facilities. 

Full text of the bill can be found here. 

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