New park gun law has limited impact at Voyageurs

A new federal law allowing guns in national parks will have a limited impact in Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.

The new law takes effect Monday. It allows people who can legally possess firearms under federal, state and local laws to possess them in Voyageurs National Park, but there's a catch.

It makes possession of firearms in national parks subject to the firearms laws of the states where the parks are located.

The park notes that Minnesota bans rifles, shotguns or BB guns in public places such as Voyageurs. People who wish to take handguns into the park can do so as long as they comply with all applicable Minnesota laws.

Voyageurs Superintendent Mike Ward says visitors should do their research ahead of time.

Hunting remains illegal in Voyageurs.

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On the Net: Voyaguers National Park: http://www.nps.gov/voya

Voyageurs says the Minnesota firearms laws that apply there are:

MN STATUTE 624.714: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id624.714&year2009

MN STATUTE 624.7181: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?year2009&id624.7181

MN STATUTE 97B.045: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id97B.045&year2009

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