Man gets escorted off of NF trail for open carrying rifle and pistol. UPDATE!!

[bobcat]

The trail was closed, so how can you say he wasn't breaking any laws? Maybe that's why he was escorted off?

Because it says that he was escorted off because other people felt uncomfortable. No reason to believe otherwise. Especially since that info came from the Verlot Station.

I was just going off your statement in the original post where you said that "the trail was closed." But I took that the wrong way, and thought you were saying the that he had been hiking on a closed trail, not that they closed it because of him and his gun.

Yeah, if I lived closer I'd go for a hike up that trail tomorrow with my bear rifle.

[bobcat]

The trail was closed, so how can you say he wasn't breaking any laws? Maybe that's why he was escorted off?

The trail was open and other people were passing the guy, please read the info again. Unless it was a gun free zone, his rights were violated!

I did read it again, Dale. I misunderstood the post. I was confused how he could be walking on a closed trail yet no laws were broken.

[timberghost72]

The trail was closed, so how can you say he wasn't breaking any laws? Maybe that's why he was escorted off?

Because it says that he was escorted off because other people felt uncomfortable. No reason to believe otherwise. Especially since that info came from the Verlot Station.

I was just going off your statement in the original post where you said that "the trail was closed." But I took that the wrong way, and thought you were saying the that he had been hiking on a closed trail, not that they closed it because of him and his gun.

Yeah, if I lived closer I'd go for a hike up that trail tomorrow with my bear rifle.

 
It is an awesome hike up to the lookout and worth it if you're ever in the area.

I will say though that the upper portion of the hike and a large portion of the Pilchuck ridge is a State Park so no hunting up there if anyone is inclined to do so. Not real well known that it's a State Park up top.

[Curly]

Here is the thread I was thinking about when I read about this.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,152130.0.html

[TVHunts]

Well I looked again. Nowhere in the Constitution is anyones personal comfort(able) level mentioned. It does however state that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". Weird huh? I am more than ready to show up for a fully armed and loaded hike.

Unfortunately this is how gun owners get their rights infringed on frequently.  All anyone has to do is call 911 and say that it made them uncomfortable to have some carrying. Then, the cops have cause "in their opinion" to take action.  Happens all the time and it is wrong.

He should find a good lawyer and sue, I agree!  The only way it will change is if it hits some of these jurisdictions in the wallet or over reacting. 

[TVHunts]

It will be interesting to find out as to why. So far I have not heard anything to suggest he was up there for bad intentions. Just out walking his rifle  I am up that mountain at least twice a year and always have a side arm on (not that I feel threatened there. It is a very high use trail)

I for one don't feel safe if I don't carry.  It doesn't matter where or what I am doing.  Only time I do not is if it is illegal to do so, courthouse, etc.   I honestly feel the people who don't carry are the ones who are crazy.  As the saying goes " I'd rather have it and not need it then to need it and not have it"   I am not afraid or paranoid, just informed and aware.

[Elkaholic daWg]

Seems there were more dangerous people up there than he was that day.......( Comments)

sat night 


spent the night at pilchuck sat night and had to stop a complete moron from lighting a campfire on the deck leading out to the rocks.

[CAMPMEAT]

Well I looked again. Nowhere in the Constitution is anyones personal comfort(able) level mentioned. It does however state that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". Weird huh? I am more than ready to show up for a fully armed and loaded hike.

.................don't forget your ATV too washelkhunter.......

[Badhabit]

It just amazes me that LEO's of any kind in WA have to go "investigate"  legal open carry. 911 and dispatch should be trained to educate the concerned callers about WA open carry rights rather than send out the troops. 

[CAMPMEAT]

I actually have a high school friend that murdered 2 people on the Loop Highway. One was the real estate agent from Duvall and the other was a camper who confronted him about shooting a deer in a campground nearer to Darrington. So, you never know who you're going to meet in the woods.....

[Badhabit]

I guess my perspective may be tainted by all the U-tube uploads of open carry encounters in WA.

[pianoman9701]

Carrying an MSR in Starbucks is one thing. Carrying in the woods is another altogether. Does this mean that hunters are going to be harassed during hunting season now? This is ridiculous.

[boneaddict]

 

[Chase 1]

Although I totally disagree with the outcome of this incident if it truly was handled by LE the way it is described in the posts, I will play the devil's advocate with my next statement:

There is a fine line that is being walked in that area that is based entirely on fear. See, several years ago a mother-daughter duo out on a day hike were murdered in a crime that is still unsolved. For a couple years following the incident the visitor numbers drastically declined based on the fear created by a monster on the loose. Nearly all the stores in Granite Falls still display Reward posters that explain the crime, the victims, and inform hikers that the killer is still at large. This terrible incident altered the mental landscape of hikers in that area and created a fear of the possibility that it could happen again because the killer is still at large.

Like I said, I disagree with any law abiding citizens right to carry being infringed upon but there is also a level of sensitivity in that area that hikers and LE deal with that makes the issue less than black and white. I don't like it but I understand it. I would like to hear an official account of the incident rather than base my reaction on posts from  people who encountered only a few seconds of an incident that it seems no one really witnessed the conclusion of.   

[grundy53]

Does anyone know which agency escorted this man of the trail? It seems like they should be asked why they felt it was ok to violate his rights. Maybe have several hundred concerned emails asking them...