[Jeff Higgins]

Up here in Washington it used to be illegal to carry any sort of a modern firearm during weapons restricted seasons, i.e. archery and muzzle loader. We were allowed to carry either a muzzle loading pistol or a cap and ball revolver during muzzle loader seasons, just no cartridge guns. Archers were not allowed to carry any sort of a firearm. Game department rules, not state law.

Those rules were in conflict with state law and the 2nd Amendment. Hunters did not win the right to have a sidearm during these special seasons over any concerns regarding animal attack or anything at all like that. It was decided (rightly so) that we do not forfeit any of our rights just because we are participating in an activity regulated by some appointed bureaucrats making up their own contrived rules.

This was the same basic argument that forced the parks service to relent on their rules banning firearms in national parks. They simply do not have the authority to demand we give up our rights just because we find ourselves in a national park.