hi folks! im planning a thru hike for 2014 and wanted to know if it’s legal for me to open carry my handgun in all areas of the at? if certain areas dont allow it, does anyone have suggestions for sending it on ahead to the next legal spot? is it legal to mail it? thanks for the help.
gatekeeper
Some of the states the AT passes through are licensed open carry states (GA-TN-MD-NJ-CT and MA) so you’d have to obtain a license for each of those states. NY is a non-permissive state so forget that one entirely. NC and VA may be the only states with true open carry laws. The other states not seperately listed are gray areas, meaning the states don’t necessarily have laws prohibiting open carry, it’s not condone or encouraged and you’re likely to eb hassled for it in towns and at road crossing. All National Parks (and the 2 open carry states of NC and VA reside mostly in NP land as fas as the AT is concerned) are no carry areas by virtue of being Federal Land. A good many State Parks in states that do have open carry (my own state of GA for example) are no firearm zones even with your license. Taking a gun on the AT would be a no-go for based purely on weight considerations, but the carry laws of 14 states, plus the Feds would deter me from considering it even if it weighed 2 ounces.
Paul
Thanks for the info. That is disappointing. I have heard that a lot irresponsible dog owners will bring their dogs on the trail and I wanted to have a way to protect myself and send a message that they better keep it on a leash.
gatekeeper
a small canister of pepper spray would work better. Yeah like the one your mailman carries. The wind better not be blowing back at you or you will get a dose of it. 
jerseyjane
Aside from the fact that you’ve set yourself up for future legal trouble by openly stating on a public internet forum that you intend to shoot any dogs that should scare you along the AT, carrying a firearm on a thru hike attempt is incredibly dumb from a weight standpoint. Use your hiking pole to fend off the chipmunks and squirrels, but leave your fears in your psychiatrist’s office at home. Open carry won’t impress or intimidate anyone on the AT, and will flag you as a less-than sensible person. In today’s law enforcement environment, you don’t want that kind of trouble. Believe me, it’s more trouble than it’s worth. [But trouble finds some people, especially trolls.]
Sheriff Tom
Handguns are definitely NOT legal to send thru the USPS. Handguns typically are shipped UPS or FedEx overnight delivery, signature required for receipt.
I’m a “gun guy” at home but never even consider carrying a weapon on the trail. Relax and enjoy the hike.
bowlegs
I carried on the CT and it was more of a pain in the ass than anything. My summer hiking side-arm is a Kel-Tek P3AT. If you must carry, do it concealed. Get licensed through your state–many states have reciprocity. In order to be legal, you will obviously need to do your research. Now, if all you are wanting to do is prove a point to people who don’t leash their dogs, there might be better ways to do it besides shooting their animals. Get a sharp stick or use your hiking pole. When you have an emotional situation involving 2 people (a dog) and then add a firearm, you have the possibility for a death sentence. Take a step back and consider this…Does their infraction deserve a death sentence? For them, or for you. Is it worth altering the rest of your life? It is almost always best to step back from the situation and de-escalate. Don’t be a victim and don’t be an attacker. Walk on down the trail.
Birdog
Is that Kel-Tek’s “A.T.”-recommended model (the P3AT)? Out of curiosity, Bird Dog, why did you feel the need to carry on the trail in Connecticut? In what way did it ultimately prove untenable? Give an example of your experience that might dissuade a newcomer from following in your footsteps. Otherwise, I imagine your post will be perceived, above all, as an endorsement for carrying a concealed weapon, which is arguably even more dangerous than open carry in the case of someone with a vendetta against dogs.
hoch
I believe he was referring to the Colorado Trail not the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut. Perhaps there is more of a threat of wild animals out in that area, like mountain cats.
toga
Hoch, Toga is correct. I was speaking of the Colorado Trail, not Connecticut, which is a bit different than the AT, in that there are not many people around in wilderness areas, and there are quite a few big cats around as well as black bear. None of which were a problem for me on the trail. (Not that I really could have done anything about it if they had been a problem.) Additionally, something happens, help can be up to 50 miles away. In order to carry concealed, one (normally) must be licensed. Arguably someone (A troll perhaps) could read my post and think, “oh, Hey–put the gun in my pocket and hide it and hope I don’t get caught.” (which is not my intention by any means.) I agree that it would not be a good idea for all people to carry concealed–or at all. Most states that offer the “training” to carry concealed include “lectures” on ethics and the legal repercussions of carrying and using a firearm for self defense. When I mention carrying concealed, I should have specified “Legally carrying concealed.” I am glad you asked for clarification. Regrettably, this post which might have been informative to a beginner considering a thru-hike has turned into something else with the scat references. I carry because I sleep better knowing I have my sidearm. For me it’s better to have it, and not need it, than need it and not have it. Some folks are avidly against firearms on the trail and I am not going to attempt to win someones agreement, rather just agree to disagree. And I carry concealed, so that it is not out there to make someone uncomfortable.
Birdog
I have hiked over 10000 miles. Walk from Canada to Mexico and hitch-hiked at the border and have never carried a firearm.
Macon