Parks Restrictions

October 12, 2023 – Compilation of Parks Restrictions (.pdf)Download

October 12, 2023 – Table of Parks Restrictions (.docx)Download

The following is a selection of historical laws regulating guns in public parks.

New York, New York: Minutes of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Central Park, for the Year Ending April 30, 1858, at 166 (1858) (“Be it ordained by the Commissioners of the Central Park: All persons are forbidden … [t]o carry fire-arms … within it.”) [Google Books]
New York, New York: Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners of the Central Park 106 (1861) (“All persons are forbidden … [t]o carry firearms or to throw stones or other missiles within [Central Park].”) [Hathi]
Brooklyn, New York: Annual Reports of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners 136 (1873) (art. I, § 4) (“All persons are forbidden … [t]o carry firearms … within [Prospect Park.]”) (enacted 1866) [Hathi]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 1868 Pa. Laws 1088, No. 1020, § 21, pt. II (“No person shall carry fire arms … in [Fairmount Park] or within fifty yards thereof[.]”) [HeinOnline]
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1874-5, Ending June 30, 1875, at 887 (1875) (§ 2, pt. 2) (“Within [Golden Gate and Buena Vista Parks] all persons are hereby forbidden … [t]o carry … firearms.”) (enacted 1872) [Google Books]
Chicago, Illinois: Murray F. Tuley, Laws and Ordinances Governing the City of Chicago 88 (1873) (§ 6) (“All persons are forbidden to carry firearms … within any one of the public parks.”) [Google Books]
Buffalo, New York: Fourth Annual Report of the Buffalo Park Commissioners 24 (1874) (ch. 1, § 1) (“All persons are forbidden to carry fire arms … within the several parks, approaches thereto or streets connecting the same.”) [Hathi]
Hyde Park, Illinois: Consider H. Willett, Laws and Ordinances Governing the Village of Hyde Park 310 (1876) (§ 6) (“All persons are forbidden to carry fire arms … within [South Park].”) (enacted 1875) [PDF]
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania: A Digest of the Ordinances of Town Council of the Borough of Phoenixville 135 (1906) (§ 4) (“No person shall carry fire-arms … therein [Reeves Park].”) (enacted 1878) [Google Books]
Chicago, Illinois: Egbert Jamieson & Francis Adams, The Municipal Code of Chicago: Comprising the Laws of Illinois Relating to the City and the Ordinances of the City Council 391-92 (1881) (§ 1690) (“All persons are forbidden to carry firearms … within any one of the public parks”)[PDF]
St. Louis, Missouri: Michael John Sullivan, The Revised Ordinance of the City of St. Louis, Together with the Constitution of the United States, Constitution of the State of Missouri, the Scheme for the Separation of the Governments of the City and County of St. Louis, the Charter of the City, and a Digest of the Laws Applicable to the City 635 (1881) (§ 3) (“No person shall … use or have in his possession ready for use in any street, alley, walk or park of the city of St. Louis” any device that discharges a “fragment, bolt, arrow, pellet, or other missile”) [Hathi]
Danville, Illinois: Mann et al., The Revised Ordinances of the City of Danville 83 (1883) (§ 4) (“Whoever shall carry any fire-arms into said parks … shall be fined not less than one dollar nor more than one hundred dollars, for each offense.”) [PDF]
St. Louis, Missouri: David H. MacAdam, Tower Grove Park of the City of St. Louis 117 (1883) (§ 4) (“All persons are forbidden … [t]o carry firearms[.]” (Tower Grove Park) [Google Books]
Boston, Massachusetts: Thirteenth Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners for the Year 1887, at 86 (1888) (§ 3) (“The Board of Park Commissioners of the City of Boston … hereby ordains that within the Public Parks, except with the prior consent of the Board, it is forbidden: … to carry fire-arms, except by members of the Police Force in the discharge of their duties[.]”) (enacted 1886) [Google Books]
Reading, Pennsylvania: A Digest of the Laws and Ordinances for the Government of the Municipal Corporation of the City of Reading, Pennsylvania 240 (1897) (§ 20, pt. 8) (“No person shall carry firearms, or shoot in the common, or within fifty yards thereof[.]”) (enacted 1887) [Google Books]
Saint Paul, Minnesota: Annual Reports of the City Officers and City Boards of the City of Saint Paul 689 (1889) (“No person shall carry firearms … in any Park or within fifty yards thereof[.]”) (enacted 1888) [Google Books]
Salt Lake City, Utah: The Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, with the City Charter and Amendments Thereto 248 (1888) (§ 6) (“No person shall, within Liberty Park … [c]arry … firearms.”) [PDF]
Berlin, Wisconsin: The Municipal Code of Berlin, Comprising the Charter and the General Ordinances of the City 76 (1890) (§ 263) (“All persons are forbidden to carry fire arms … within anyone of the public parks of this City.”) [Hathi]
Trenton, New Jersey: City of Trenton, New Jersey, Charter and Ordinances 390 (1903) (§ 8) (“No person shall carry firearms … in said park or squares, or within fifty yards thereof[.]”) (enacted 1890) [Google Books]
Williamsport, Pennsylvania: Laws and Ordinances for the Government of the Municipal Corporation of the City of Williamsport, Pennsylvania 141 (1891) (§ 1, pt. 21) (“No person shall carry fire-arms … in [Brandon Park.]”) (enacted 1890) [Google Books]
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Colin P. Campbell, Compiled Ordinances of the City of Grand Rapids, Containing all Ordinances passed by the Common Council, of the City of Grand Rapids, in force September 1, 1906, at 163 (1906) (§ 432) (“No person shall … carry any rifle, gun, or other fire arm of any kind within any park of the City of Grand Rapids[.]”) (enacted 1891) [PDF]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: First Annual Report of the Park Commissioners of the City of Milwaukee 32 (1892) (§ 3) (“All persons are forbidden to carry fire-arms … within the parks.”) (enacted 1891) [Hathi]
Springfield, Massachusetts: Park Commissioners’ Report, Springfield, Massachusetts 82 (1897) (§ 3) (“[W]ithin the Public Parks, except with prior consent of the Board, it is forbidden … to … carry firearms[.]”) (enacted 1891) [Google Books]
Cincinnati, Ohio: Annual Report of the Board of Park Commissioners, for the Year Ending December 31, 1892, at 28 (1893) (§ 13) (“No person shall bring into … the parks any firearms[.]”) (enacted 1892) [Hathi]
Lynn, Massachusetts: Third Annual Report of the Park Commissioners of the City of Lynn, For the Year Ending December 20, 1891, at 23 (1892) (§ 3) (“[W]ithin the limits of Lynn Woods, except with the prior consent of the Board, it is forbidden … to … carry firearms[.]”) [Google Books]
Peoria, Illinois: Wilbert I. Slemmons et al., Laws and Ordinances of the City of Peoria, Illinois 667 (1892) (§ 1724) (“All persons are forbidden to carry fire arms … within any of the public parks, public squares, or public grounds, within said city.”) [Hathi]
Spokane, Washington: Rose M. Denny, The Municipal Code of the City of Spokane, Washington, Comprising the Ordinances of the City 316 (1896) (§ 4) (“All persons are forbidden to carry firearms … within any one of the public parks or other public grounds of the city.”) (enacted 1892) [Google Books]
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: W. W. Thomson, A Digest of the Acts of Assembly Relating to, and the General Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh From 1804 to Jan. 1, 1897, with References to Decisions Thereon 496 (1897) (§ 5, pt. 3) (“No person shall be allowed to carry firearms … within the limits of the parks or within one hundred yards thereof.”) (enacted 1893) [Google Books]
Wilmington, Delaware: The Charter of the City of Wilmington 571 (1893) (pt. VII, § 7) (“No person shall carry fire-arms … within the Park[.]”) [Google Books]
Saint Paul, Minnesota: John A. Giltinan, General Ordinances and Private Ordinances of a Public Nature of the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, Up to and Including December 31st, 1895, at 208 (1896) (pt. 6) (“No person shall carry firearms … in any park, or within fifty (50) yards thereof[.]”) (enacted 1894) [PDF]
Canton, Illinois: B. M. Chiperfield, Revised Ordinances of the City of Canton, Illinois 240 (1895) (§ 26) (“All persons are forbidden to carry firearms … within any one of these Public Parks.”) [PDF]
Detroit, Michigan: 1895 Mich. Local Acts 596, § 44 (prohibiting the carrying or discharging of firearms within the public parks and Grand Boulevard of Detroit without permission of the commissioner) [HeinOnline]
Centralia, Illinois: The Centralia City Code: Comprising Original Charter and Amendments, the Laws of the State of Illinois Relating to the Government of the City of Centralia, General Ordinances, Special Ordinances and Illinois Central Railroad Contract 188 (1896) (ch. 33, § 3) (“All persons are forbidden to carry firearms … in [Centralia’s Central Park].”) [Hathi]
Indianapolis, Indiana: Edgar A. Brown & William W. Thornton, The General Ordinances of the City of Indianapolis, Containing, Also, Acts of the Indiana General Assembly So Far as They Control Said City, to Which Is Prefixed a Chronological Roster of Officers from 1832 to 1904, and Rules Governing the Common Council 648 (1904) (§ 1971) (“No person shall … have possession of any fire-arm within the limits of any public park.”) (enacted 1896) [PDF]
Rochester, New York: Warren H. Manning, Report of the Board of Park Commissioners of the City of Rochester, N.Y. 1888 to 1898, at 97-98 (1898) (§ 4, pt. 25) (“No person shall commit any of the following acts within said parks without the consent of said Board, or some duly authorized person … Carry any … firearm, sling-shot, axe, saw, shovel or spade within … Genesee Valley Park, Highland Park, Seneca Park east and Seneca Park west.”) (enacted 1896) [Google Books]
Wilmington, Delaware: John M. Rogers, Report of the Board of Park Commissioners, of Wilmington, Del. for the Year ending December 31st, 1897, at 24 (1898) (“No person shall carry firearms … within the boundaries of the Park.”) [Google Books]
Kansas City, Missouri: Frank F. Rozzelle & George R. Thompson, Charter and Revised Ordinances of Kansas City 1898, at 657 (1898) (§ 11) (“No person shall … carry fire-arms … within any park, boulevard, parkway or driveway of this city under the control or supervision of the board of park commissioners, except upon a permit first duly obtained or authority previously granted by said board[.]”) [Google Books]
New Haven, Connecticut: Charter and Ordinances of the City of New Haven, Together with Legislative Acts Affecting Said City 293 (1898) (§ 3) (“No person shall carry or have any fire-arms on any of said parks[.]”) [Google Books]
Boulder, Colorado: Oscar F. Greene, Revised Ordinances of the City of Boulder 157 (1899) (ch. XVIII, No. 511, § 1) (prohibiting the carrying of firearms into “any of the parks belonging to the City of Boulder”) [PDF]
Minnesota: 1901 Minn. Laws 396-97, ch. 250, § 1 (“Any person who shall … in any manner whatsoever … have in their possession loaded or charged firearms at any point within three thousand (3,000) feet of the outward limits of, or proposed outward boundary line or limits of any … state park within this state, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor[.]”) [HeinOnline]
Hartford, Connecticut: Henry F. Smith, Municipal Register of the City of Hartford 493 (1907) (pt. 9) (“The Board of Park Commissioners … hereby make and ordain the following rules and regulations for the management of the parks owned by or under control of the city of Hartford. … It is forbidden … [t]o … carry firearms[.]”) (enacted 1902) [PDF]
New Bedford, Massachusetts: Ninth Annual Report of the Department of Parks of the City of New Bedford, Mass. 1902, at 74 (1903) (§ 3) (“[W]ithin the public parks and commons of the city, except with prior consent of the Commissioners, all persons are hereby forbidden … to … carry firearms[.]”) (enacted 1902) [Hathi]
Springfield, Illinois: First Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Springfield, Illinois 69 (1902) (§ 3, pt. 4) (“ALL PERSONS ARE FORBIDDEN: … [t]o carry … firearms … in the parks[.]”) [Google Books]
Lowell, Massachusetts: First Annual Report of the Board of Park Commissioners of the City of Lowell for the Year ending December 31, 1903, at 58 (1904) (§ 3) (“[W]ithin [the] Public Parks and Commons, except by and with the consent of the Board … [i]t is forbidden to … carry firearms[.]”) [Hathi]
New York City, New York: IV Proceedings of the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York from October 6 to December 28, 1903, at 600 (1903) (§ 24) (“No one shall … carry any firearm … within any of the parks, parkways, squares or places in The City of New York under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks without special permission from the Commissioner having jurisdiction.”) [Hathi]
Pasadena, California: Ordinance No. 539, III Ordinances of the City of Pasadena California 29 (1912) (§ 1, pt. 2) (“It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person or persons to do any of the acts hereinafter specified within the limits of any of said public parks … [t]o carry … any firearms[.]”) (enacted 1903) [Google Books]
Troy, New York: John T. Norton, Municipal Ordinances of the City of Troy 375 (1905) (“All persons are forbidden … [t]o carry … firearms … in the parks.”) (enacted 1903) [PDF]
Houston, Texas: Roberts & Crawford, Charter and Revised Code of Ordinances of the City of Houston, Harris County, Texas, to October 31, 1904, at 358-59 (1904) (art. 918, pt. 3; art. 921) (“It shall be unlawful for any person or persons within the public park and commons of this city to … carry firearms”; exception for “workmen in the legitimate discharge of their respective duties.”) [PDF]
Neligh, Nebraska: The Ordinances of the City of Neligh, Nebraska 37 (1906) (No. 61, § 1) (“[I]f any person shall carry … any firearm or gun of any description in any public park belonging to the city of Neligh, such person shall on conviction thereof, be fined in any sum not exceeding $25.”) (enacted 1904) [PDF]
Pueblo, Colorado: D. A. Highberger & John A. Martin, Ordinances of the City of Pueblo 383-86 (1908) (No. 678, pt. 20) (“[F]or the purpose of governing and regulating the use of the parks and of park property within the city of Pueblo, the following rules … are … adopted: … No person shall … carry firearms[.]”) (enacted 1904) [PDF]
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: James M. Lamberton, A Digest of the Laws and Ordinances for the Government of the Municipal Corporation of the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Force August 1, A. D. 1906, at 468(1906) (§§ 4, 8) (“No person shall commit any of the following acts within said park or parkways, without the previously obtained consent of the commission: … 4. [c]arry … any firearms … 8. [c]arry any … firearms … within reservoir park.”) (enacted 1905) [PDF]
Haverhill, Massachusetts: Annual Report of the Park Commissioners of the City of Haverhill, Massachusetts for the Year Ending December 31, 1905, at 12 (1906) (§ 9) (“It is forbidden … to … carry firearms … within the parks.”) (enacted 1905) [Google Books]
Minnesota: 1905 Minn. Laws 620, ch. 344, § 53 (prohibiting firearms within state parks or within “one-half mile of the outer limits” of a state park, unless the firearm is unloaded and has been sealed by the park commissioner”) [HeinOnline]
Saginaw, Michigan: Charter of the City of Saginaw, Michigan, with Amendments Thereto and the Acts of the Legislature Relating to or Affecting the City of Saginaw 173 (1905) (§ 22) (“No person shall … carry firearms … within park boulevards, nor shall any person fire, discharge or set off any rocket, cracker, torpedo, squib or other fireworks, or things containing any substance of any explosive character on said park or boulevard without the consent of said commissioners, and then only under such regulations as they shall prescribe.”) [PDF]
Chicago, Illinois: Amendments to “The Revised Municipal Code of Chicago of 1905” and New General Ordinances 40 (1906) (“All persons are forbidden to carry firearms … within any of the Parks, Public Play Grounds or Bathing Beaches of the City[.]”) [Hathi]
Denver, Colorado: Charles W. Varnum & J. Frank Adams, The Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver Approved April 12, 1906, at 479 (1906) (§ 1367) (“All persons are forbidden … to carry … firearms … in the parks[.]”) [PDF]
Los Angeles, California: Jess E. Stephens & E. H. Delorey, Penal Ordinances of the City of Los Angeles 41-42 (1922) (§§ 1, 2, pt. 2) (“1. That the rules and regulations hereinafter prescribed shall govern the public parks of the City of Los Angeles. 2. That within the limits of any of said parks, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to do any of the acts hereinafter specified, to-wit: … To carry … any fire arms, … or air gun or slungshot.”) (enacted 1906) [PDF]
District of Columbia: I Annual Report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia Year Ended June 30, 1908, at 85 (1908) (§ 4) (“Within the limits of [Rock Creek Park] all persons are forbidden … [t]o carry … firearms[.]”) (enacted 1907) [Google Books]
Oil City, Pennsylvania: A Digest of the Ordinances and Principal Resolutions for the Government of the City of Oil City, in Venango County, Pennsylvania, in Force January 1st, 1907, at 121 (§ 1, pt. 4) (“[T]he following rules and regulations shall be and are hereby established for the management and protection of the parks and public grounds of the City of Oil City, to wit … No persons shall be allowed to carry firearms … within the limits of the park.”) [Google Books]
Olean, New York: Richmond C. Hill, Ordinances of the City of Olean as Amended to September 1922, at 26 (1922) (§ 4) (“No person shall … carry any firearms in any park.”) (enacted 1907) [PDF]
Portland, Oregon: Charter and General Ordinances of the City of Portland, Oregon 483 (1910) (Rule III) (“[T]he following rules and regulations govern[] the use of Public Parks and Plazas in the City of Portland … No person shall … have in his possession … any fiream[.]”) (enacted 1907) [PDF]
Seattle, Washington: Charles S. Gleason, The Charter of the City of Seattle, Adopted at the General Election March 3, 1896 as Amended in 1900, 1902, 1904, 1906 and 1908, and the Ordinances of the City of Seattle from December 1, 1869, to November 1, 1907, at 221 (1908) (§ 100) (“It shall be unlawful for any person … to carry any fire-arm in any park.”) (enacted 1907) [PDF]
Kansas City, Missouri: Rees Turpin et al., Charter and Revised Ordinances of Kansas City 1909, at 846 (1909) (§ 1048) (“No person shall … carry fire-arms … within any park, boulevard, avenue, street, parkway, or driveway of this city under the control or supervision of the Board of Park Commissioners, except upon a permit first duly obtained or authority previously granted by said Board and subject to such rules and regulations as said Board may establish.”) [PDF]
Memphis, Tennessee: H. Douglass Hughey, A Digest of the Laws, Ordinances and Contracts of the City of Memphis 657-59 (1909) (§ 1131, pt. 13) (“[I]t shall be a misdemeanor … to commit the following acts … To … carry any firearms … within any of the parks, parkways, squares or places without special permission from the Commissioners.”) [PDF]
Oakland, California: General Municipal Ordinances of the City of Oakland, Cal. Addenda at 15 (1909) (§ 9) (“No person shall carry firearms, or shoot birds or throw stones or other miss[i]les within the boundaries of the parks controlled by the Park Commission”) [Hathi]
Paducah, Kentucky: E. H. Puryear, Constitution, Charter and Revision of the Ordinances and Municipal Laws of the City of Paducah, Kentucky, Under the Charter Act of March 19, 1894 and Amendments Thereto 489 (1910) (§ 20) (“No person shall … carry fire-arms … within any park, boulevard, avenue, street, parkway or driveway of this city under the control or supervision of the Board of Park Commissioners, except upon a permit first duly obtained or authority previously granted by said board[.]”) (enacted 1909) [PDF]
Jacksonville, Illinois: William M. Morrisey & Frederick l. Gregory, Ordinances Governing the City of Jacksonville of the State of Illinois 113 (1910) (art. II, § 3) (“No person shall carry any firearms … within any of said parks.”) [Google Books]
Staunton, Virginia: The Code of the City of Staunton, Virginia 115 (1910) (§ 135) (“All persons are forbidden … to carry firearms … within [the park.]”) [Hathi]
Colorado Springs, Colorado: F. L. Sherwin et al., The Code of Colorado Springs, 1922, at 450 (1922) (§ 1068) (“All persons are forbidden … to carry … firearms … in the parks[.]”) (enacted 1911) [PDF]
New York City, New York: Arthur F. Cosby, New Code of Ordinances of the City of New York, Including the Sanitary Code, the Building Code and Park Regulations 389 (1926) (§ 17, pt. 8) (“No person shall, in any park: … carry any firearm[.]”) (enacted 1912) [PDF]
Oakland, California: John L. Davie, City of Oakland General Municipal Ordinances In effect January 1, 1918, at119 (1918) (§ 9) (“No person shall carry firearms … within the boundaries of the parks controlled by the Board of Park Directors.”) (enacted 1912) [PDF]
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Raymond M. Ferguson & Frank E. Shaw, Compiled Ordinances of the City of Grand Rapids 208 (1915) (§ 556, pt. e) (“No person shall carry any rifle, gun, or other fire-arm of any kind within the parks and playgrounds of the City of Grand Rapids[.]”) (enacted 1914) [PDF]
New Haven, Connecticut: Charter and Ordinances of the City of New Haven, Conn. and Special Acts Revised to January, 1914, at 438 (1914) (§ 3) (“No person shall carry or have any firearms on any of said parks[.]”) [PDF]
New York City, New York: Ordinances, Rules and Regulations of the Department of Parks of the City of New York 7 (1916) (§ 17, pt. 8) (“No person shall, in any park … carry any firearm[.]”) [Hathi]
Birmingham, Alabama: Henry L. Anderton, The Code of City of Birmingham, Alabama 662 (1917) (§ 1544) (“[N]o person shall carry firearms … within any of such public parks[.]”) [Google Books]
Joplin, Missouri: Hugh McIndoe & E.F. Cameron, The Joplin Code of 1917, at 552 (1917) (§ 1214) (“All persons are forbidden … to carry … firearms … in the parks[.]”) [PDF]
Maryland: Report of the Maryland State Board of Forestry for 1916 and 1917, at 60-61 (1917) (pt. 4) (“RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY … [Uses like camping require a permit; permittees and their guests] … [w]ill not bring into the Patapsco State Park or have in his or their possession while there fire-arms of any description[.]”); id. at 62 (within sign to be posted in Patapsco State Park: “FIREARMS PROHIBITED”) [Hathi]
Wisconsin: 1917 Wis. Sess. Laws 1243-44, ch. 668, § 3(29.57)(4) (no person shall “have in his possession or under his control therein any gun or rifle, unless the same is unloaded and knocked down or enclosed within its carrying case” while in any “wild life refuge, state park, or state fish hatchery lands”) [HeinOnline]
Connecticut: Report of the State Park Commission to the Governor For the Two Fiscal Years ended September 30, 1918, at 31 (1918) (“The use of firearms or having them in possession is forbidden [in Connecticut State Parks.]”) [Hathi]
Salt Lake City, Utah: W. H. Gregory, Revised Ordinances of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1920, at 474 (1920) (§ 1494, pt. 2) (“It shall be unlawful for any person to do … any of the acts hereinafter specified in any public park or play ground in Salt Lake City, or in any place … set aside or used as a public park or play ground, to wit: … 2. To carry … any firearms[.]”) [PDF]
Burlington, Vermont: Revised Ordinances of 1921, City of Burlington, Vermont 1 (1921) (§ 3) (“No person shall carry or have any firearms on any of said parks[.]”) [PDF]
North Carolina: 1921 N.C. Sess. Laws 54, Pub. Laws Extra Sess. ch. 6, § 3 (prohibiting the carrying of a firearm in any park or reservation unless written permission has been obtained from the owner or manager of said park or reservation) [HeinOnline]
Chattanooga, Tennessee: Digest of the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Chattanooga, In Force on January 1st, 1922, at 144-45 (1922) (§ 516) (“GENERAL REGULATIONS OF PUBLIC PARKS … 516. … It shall be unlawful to … carry firearms[.]”) [PDF]
Chicago, Illinois: Samuel A. Ettelson, The Chicago Municipal Code of 1922, Containing the General Ordinances of the City In Force November 22, 1922, and Repealing Former General Ordinances with Certain Exceptions 809 (1922) (§ 2870) (“All persons are forbidden to carry firearms … within any of the parks, public playgrounds, or bathing beaches of the city[.]”) [Google Books]
Washington: Raymond H. Torrey, State Parks and Recreational Uses of State Forests in the United States 247 (1926) (“Among the regulations [of Washington State Parks] which experience has required for conservation, sanitation, cleanliness and good order are prohibitions against fire arms[.]”) [Hathi]
Indiana: 1927 Ind. Acts 98 (“[U]pon any lands of this state now or hereafter used for a state park or for a state forest reserve … it shall be unlawful for any person to go upon such lands of this state with a gun[.]”) [HeinOnline]
Indiana: The Department of Conservation State of Indiana Publication No. 68 at 181 (1927) (§ 354, pt. 2) (“The carrying or possession of a gun or firearms is prohibited.”) [Google Books]
Maryland: 1927 Md. Laws 1176, ch. 568, § 74 (“Where any portion of a State Game Refuge is used for a State Park, entry by any person within the refuge area for recreational pursuits shall not be restricted on the portion of said territory used as a State Park, so long as such persons do not carry fire-arms[.]”) [HeinOnline]
South Dakota: 1927 S.D. Sess. Laws 32, ch. 12, § 16 (“It shall be unlawful to carry fire arms in [Custer State Park], except by duly authorized officers[.]”) [HeinOnline]
Michigan: Fourth Biennial Report 1927-1928: The Department of Conservation State of Michigan 57 (1928) (§ 2) (“To carry or have firearms in possession in a State Park is unlawful.”) [Hathi]
Washington: Beatrice Ward Nelson, State Recreation: Parks, Forests and Game Preserves 278 (1928) (“The caretakers of the park, and other employees whom the committee may care to designate, are vested with police powers to enforce the laws and the rules and regulations. Among the regulations are the prohibition of firearms[.]”) [Hathi]
Kansas: Third Biennial Report of the Forestry, Fish and Game Commission of the State of Kansas for the Period Ending June 30, 1930, at 23 (1930) (§ 2) (“To carry or have firearms in possession in a state park is unlawful”) [Hathi]
Wisconsin: Wisconsin State Parks 23 (1933) (§ 6) (“[T]he carrying or using of firearms is strictly prohibited.”) [Hathi]
New Jersey: 1935 N.J. Laws 304-05, ch. 114, § 2 (“No person shall … (8) except employees or officers of the commissioners, carry firearms of any description within [Palisades State Park], or carry any airgun, sling shot, bow and arrow, or any other device whereby a missile may be thrown, without a permit from the commissioners[.]”) [Hathi]
Alabama: I Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 4 (1936) (§ 8) (“Fire-arms are rigidly excluded from State Parks[.]”) [Hathi]
California: I Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 20 (1936) (“Firearms are not allowed, and must be sealed or checked at the Warden’s Office.”) [Hathi]
Florida: I Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 35 (1936) (§ 4) (“Firearms are prohibited within the Park except upon written permission of the Superintendent.”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 190 (1936) (§ 8) (“The following acts and activities are prohibited within [Niagara Frontier State Park] areas under jurisdiction of this Commission except by permit:- The possession of any firearms … of any kind[.]”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 195 (1936) (§ 6) (“No firearms may be used or possessed within [Allegany State Park] are by visitors … except by special permission fo the Commissioners.”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 201 (1936) (§ 5) (“No person shall carry or have in his possession any gun, firearms, ammunition, or explosive … within or from the park areas [of Finger Lakes State Parks] except when especially authorized by the Commission to do so.”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 205 (1936) (§ 3) (“No person except employees or officers of the Commission shall carry firearms of any description within [Central New York State Parks].”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 221 (1936) (§ 3) (“No person except employees or officers of the Commission shall carry firearms of any description within [Taconic State Park].”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 228 (1936) (§ 8) (“No person, except employees or officers of the Commissioners, shall carry firearms of any description within [Palisades Interstate Park]. No unauthorized person shall carry any airgun, sling shot, bow and arrow, or any other device whereby a missile may be thrown.”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 236 (1936) (§ 15) (“No person shall have or carry while in any park [of the Westchester County Park System] whether concealed or not concealed on his person, any pistol, gun, rifle, revolver or other firearms of any class or kind, or any ammunition therefor, except when so authorized by law.”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 255 (1936) (§ 7) (“No person shall have or carry, whether or not concealed upon his person, any pistol or revolver … or ammunition therefor, except when so authorized by law. No person shall bring into any park [under the jurisdiction of the Long Island State Park Commission], or have in his possession therein, any rifle, shotgun, or fowling piece[.]”) [Hathi]
New York: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 264 (1936) (No. 3) (“No person shall carry or have in his possession any gun, firearms, ammunition or explosives … within or from the park area [of Thousand Island State Park] except when especially authorized by the Commission to do so.”) [Hathi]
North Carolina: II Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 284 (1936) (“Nor may any person carry a pistol, revolver or gun in any such park or reservation without first having obtained written permission to do so.”) [Hathi]
Ohio: III Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 321 (1936) (§ 5) (“[T]he carrying of firearms, either loaded or unloaded, in any state park under the control of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, is positively forbidden.”) [Hathi]
Rhode Island: III Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 360 (1936) (§ 2) (“REPRESENTATIVE RULES AND REGULATIONS [of the Division of Forests, Parks & Parkways] … No person shall … have in his possession any firearm[.]”) [Hathi]
Virginia: III Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 396 (1936) (§ 6) (“EXCERPTS FROM REGULATIONS GOVERNING PARK PERSONNEL … The carrying and use of fire arms is prohibited.”) [Hathi]
Virginia: III Digest of Laws Relating to State Parks 397 (1936) (“INSTRUCTIONS TO PARK VISITORS … Firearms are prohibited at all times.”) [Hathi]
California: Administration and Maintenance of Parks: California State Park System (1938) (§ 7) (“No person shall carry or have firearms in any state park[.]”) [PDF]
California: Annual Report of the State Park Commission (1939) (§ 7) (“No person shall carry or have firearms in any state park[.]”) [PDF]
Mississippi: Seventh Biennial Report of The Mississippi Forestry Commission and The First Biennial Report of The Mississippi State Board of Park Supervisors 105 (1939) (§ 8) (“Firearms of any kind will not be permitted within a park except when carried by a lawful officer.”) [Hathi]
California: Rules and Regulations of the California State Park System (1940) (§ 7) (“No person shall carry or have firearms in any State Park[.]”) [PDF]
Federal: Dwight H. Kelton, Annals of Fort Mackinac 22 (1882) (pt. IX) (“The following are the approved Rules and Regulations for the Park at Mackinac: … No person shall carry … fire-arms in the park.”) [Hathi]
Federal: Department of the Interior, “Rules and Regulations of the Sequoia National Park” § 5, Oct. 21, 1890, reprinted in Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior CLXII (Nov. 1, 1890) (“[N]o one shall carry into or have in the park any fire-arms, traps, nets, tackle, or appliances, or fish or hunt therein without a license in writing signed by the Secretary or superintendent of the park”) [HeinOnline]
Federal: Department of the Interior, “Rules and Regulations of the Yellowstone National Park” § 5, Aug. 1, 1894, reprinted in Report of the Secretary of the Interior 662 (1894) (“Firearms will only be permitted in the park on written permission of the superintendent thereof. On arrival at the first station of the park guard, parties having firearms will turn them over to the sergeant in charge of the station, taking his receipt for them. They will be returned to the owners on leaving the park.”) [HeinOnline]
Federal: 1 Fed. Reg. 668, 674 (June 27, 1936) (prohibiting firearms in national parks and monuments “except upon written permission of the superintended or custodian”) [Library of Congress]
Federal: Individual national parks adopted firearms prohibitions starting in the late nineteenth century. See generally National Parks Service, “Firearms Regulations in the National Parks, 1897—1936” (May 13, 2008) [perma.cc] (previously on NPS website, see [archive.org])

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