Corps Proposes Rule to Remove Federal Infringements on Second Amendment

Army Corps of Engineers Land Gun Free Zones
Army Corps of Engineers Land Gun Free Zones

U.S.A.-(Ammoland.com)- For decades, the Corps of Engineers (COE) has infringed on the Second Amendment rights of people in the United States, by limiting the bearing of arms on Corps managed lands and waters. In the last decade, lawsuits have challenged these infringements. The Corps lost one, appealed, and appealed another. After the election of President Trump, the Corps agreed to settle the lawsuits in March of 2017. The proposed rule simply aligns the Corps of Engineers rules with existing law on other government-managed lands and waters.

Corps of Engineers Comment Now
Corps of Engineers Comment Now

Conformity with state and local laws has been the law for National Parks for a decade. It has been an enormous success.  At the link, there is a button to access the site to submit a comment. It is on the upper right of the screen,in a rectangular blue box, with white letters which say “Comment Now”. Clicking on the button takes you to the page to fill out your comment. Your personal information for contact will not be displayed, unless you put it in the comment itself.

Here is the official summary of the proposed rule. From regulations.gov:

Proposed rule.

Summary

The Department of the Army, through the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”), is soliciting comments on its proposed revision of its regulation that governs the possession and transportation of firearms and other weapons at Corps water resources development projects (“projects”). This proposed revision would align the Corps regulation with the regulations of the other Federal land management agencies by removing the need for an individual to obtain written permission before possessing a weapon on Corps projects.

Dates

Written comments must be submitted on or before June 12, 2020.
Addresses

You may submit comments, identified by docket number COE-2018-0008, by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number, COE-2018-0008, in the subject line of the message.

Mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-CO-N, Steve Austin 3F68, 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000.

Hand Delivery/Courier: Due to security requirements, the Corps cannot receive comments by hand delivery or courier.

Here is the comment I submitted. You are limited to 5,000 characters.  Most comments are simple and are simply counted as for or against. Of the existing comments, about 97% were in favor of the rule removing the infringements.

I support this rule change. It is long overdue. The Corps is required to make this change by existing law and court settlements.

This change brings the Corps into alignment with existing law in other federal government managed lands.

It removes an untenable burden from unarmed rangers.

Massive benefits come with this rule change.

People will see the Corps must follow the rule of law, raising the public image of the Corps.

Crime will be decreased on Corps lands.

The ability to exercise the right to keep and bear arms will be partially restored. No government agency should routinely violate citizens fundamental rights, as the Corps has done for several decades.

In the next 55 days, there will be tens of thousands of comments. The vast majority should be in favor of the rule; however, groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity, the Everytown campaign, Giffords, Brady, Bloomberg, and others are likely to gin up support against this common sense restoration of the right to bear arms.

In 55 days we will know how the proportions of Second Amendment supporters and those who wish for a disarmed public will play out.

Commenting is very easy, and can consist of a few words, such as “I support this rule change.”

 


About Dean Weingarten:Dean Weingarten

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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nobodyuknow

The only thing that the Corps of Engineers unconstitutional prohibition against the carrying firearms on its property does is bolster criminal activity! A gun free zone is one of the most dangerous places in the United States! Well past time to do away with unconstitutional monstrosity!

Catatonic

USA: Out of curiosity, what did they do when they went “..door to door illegally to destabilize neighbors…” in Colorado? This is the first I’ve heard of this; and, living in a neighboring state with friends in Colorado, I would have expected it to have been brought to everyone’s attention. Can you elaborate?

Will Flatt

USA probably didn’t click the bell icon before posting his comment, in which case he’ll never know you replied. I too am hearing this for the 1st time but am not surprised since so many libtards invaded CO’s urban areas to Californicate an otherwise beautiful state!

Grim

Been carrying on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project lands and waters for over 40 years. So far, no COE agent remains out in the sagebrush.

Sandbagger

You go engineers I’m loving it

gooder12

If Trump gave this order Good For Him, Now how about Trump and The Right give USA National Carry, and while they are at it they could Free Up a lot of Gun Free Zones by opening up most every Government Building!! I have been calling out The Right & The Left for my 50 years of voting as they all pull this stuff knowing that most of USA won’t notice or maybe not care. So be you right or left get these changes made and then I might believe DC has our interests first. God Bless USA All.

Will Flatt

There is a real difference between Right & Left that’s worth noting, but most people are taught linear political thinking so they tend to overlook the fact that Left/Right is but one axis. They miss out on the Authoritarian/Libertarian axis, and thus fail to see that the answer does not lie in a choice between conservative and liberal but mainly between total government and blessed libertarian minarchism. I know there’s some people out there who agitate for ZERO government and total anarchy, but society will never embrace that outright. First we shrink the cancer, then we cut it out. To… Read more »

JC

The proposed changes to 36 CFR 327.13 are greatly needed and welcomed by those that choose to frequent USACE properties and desire to do so while armed. I support the proposed changes to 36 CFR 327.13, with the exception of 36 CFR 327.13(c). I do not support the proposed change to include 36 CFR 327.13(c) giving the District Commander discretion to modify or revoke permissions granted by 36 CFR 327.13 when issuing a special event permit. The individual’s right to carry should not be subject to modification or revocation when a special event permit is being considered or granted. The… Read more »

Wild Bill

Trump is the commander in chief, and it took the Corps of Engineers almost four years to follow his orders? Reassignments to Ft. Greeley are in order.

Wild Bill

@USA, Were it I, there would have been a lot of new faces around the Ft Greely OClub!

Knute

As well as a bunch of new faces at… Greenland? How is my guessing coming along? I’m guessing you would be a Greenland man, but that might be just transference. That would be my choice for a punishment station. Certainly not Iceland, which is thought of as a horrible duty station, when it’s actually one of the best. It’s just the sheeple’s penchant for bassackwardness, showing up yet again, for the gazillionth time in history.
Greenland is full of ice. Iceland is green!

Wild Bill

@USA, Chain of command is no tiny issue to military people. Had they followed their orders in an efficient manner, Trump would have the other issue solved with a post-it note.

John

Stewards of The People’s land continually fail the Bill of Rights, specifically the only one commanding “shall not be infringed”!

These same stewards then use taxpayer money to defend their draconian rules when, as here, are challenged. Ironic isn’t it?

The result of the 4th branch of government, the unelected blotted bureaucracy, which routinely tramples upon The Bill of Rights, while stealing the powers reserved to The People via the 10th Amendment.

nobodyuknow

John . . .YUP!!!

Hazcat

Fast and easy to comment on this proposed rule. Take the time to do so if you value your rights. Thanks!

Just go to https://www.regulations.gov then search for COE-2018-0008 .

Knute

Reminds me of an incident that happened to me apx 20 knots North of the old Glasgow AFB in about 1977. Yes there was one, a fully operational SAC base…. for all of about five years. It was closed ‘officially’ even back then… but they still flew B-52s out of GAFB anyway. Those of us who’ve lived near military bases know full well that whatever a burrocrat says, the opposite is true. That’s why I spell it “burro” the way they act! Anyway, I was driving to town in my 1972 Javelin with the 401 when it started making a… Read more »

loveaduck

It absolutely will not let me comment. Long one, short one, it doesn’t see my entry.

Jess

It’s very important that those, at times, are in such a secluded and isolated area, have the right to take action the second amendment. They need the right to protect themselves and their families. As my dad always said, when you need the police immediately, they are minutes away.

WhiteRose

thank you…I filled out the form……