Right to carry a weapon in this state. (FE)

The bill does not change the current state gun-free school zone law that allows a licensee to carry a firearm in a school zone anywhere but on school grounds and allows a person who has a law enforcement identification card to carry anywhere in a school zone.

The bill eliminates the general prohibition against carrying a firearm in certain buildings, such as a police station, a house of correction, or a secure mental health facility, but allows the appropriate entity to post the buildings against carrying a firearm. A person who violates the posting is guilty of criminal trespass. The bill eliminates the general prohibition against carrying a firearm in a tavern, but prohibits a person from consuming alcohol if carrying a firearm in a tavern. The tavern owner may post the tavern against carrying a firearm, and a person who violates the posting is guilty of criminal trespass. The bill also eliminates a prohibition on loading a firearm in a vehicle; under current law, the only exception to this prohibition is for a handgun. The bill expressly prohibits a local government from prohibiting persons from carrying a firearm or knife on a vehicle that is part of a mass public transportation system.

This bill also eliminates the prohibitions against carrying a firearm, bow, or crossbow in a wildlife refuge and eliminates the prohibitions against carrying a firearm, bow, or crossbow while engaging in certain activities, such as operating an all-terrain vehicle. In addition, current law prohibits an individual from shining wildlife while the individual is hunting or possessing a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow. This bill maintains that the individual may not shine wildlife while hunting but eliminates the prohibition on shining while possessing a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow.