---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1a–7b"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1a–7b"
heading: "Protection of right of individuals to bear arms"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1a-7b"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter I — National Park Service"
---

# §1a–7b. Protection of right of individuals to bear arms

- (a) **Congressional findings—** Congress finds the following:
  - (1) The 2d amendment to the Constitution provides that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”.
  - (2) Section 27.42 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, provides that, except in special circumstances, citizens of the United States may not “possess, use, or transport firearms on national wildlife refuges” of the United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service.
  - (3) The regulations described in [paragraph (2)](#a-2) prevent individuals complying with Federal and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) laws from exercising the 2d amendment rights of the individuals while at [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
  - (4) The existence of different laws relating to the transportation and possession of firearms at different [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System entrapped law-abiding gun [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) while at [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
  - (5) Although the Bush administration issued new regulations relating to the 2d amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System that went into effect on January 9, 2009—
    - (A) on March 19, 2009, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction with respect to the implementation and enforcement of the new regulations; and
    - (B) the new regulations—
      - (i) are under review by the Obama administration; and
      - (ii) may be altered.
  - (6) Congress needs to weigh in on the new regulations to ensure that unelected bureaucrats and judges cannot again override the 2d amendment rights of law-abiding citizens on 90,790,000 acres of land under the jurisdiction of the United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service.
  - (7) Federal laws should make it clear that the 2d amendment rights of an individual at a [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System should not be infringed.
- (b) **Protection of right of individuals to bear arms in units of the National Wildlife Refuge System—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm, including an assembled or functional firearm, in any [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System if—
  - (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and
  - (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) in which the [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System is located.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–24, title V, § 512, May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1764; Pub. L. 113–287, §§ 4(d), 7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3263, 3272.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Pub. L. 113–287, § 7, which directed repeal of this section insofar as it related to the National Park System, could not be executed because of the general amendment by Pub. L. 113–287, § 4(d), which made section applicable only to the National Wildlife Refuge System. See below. For provisions related to the National Park System, see section 104906 of Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs.

Pub. L. 113–287, § 4(d), amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to the right of Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights in the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective nine months after May 22, 2009, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–24, set out as an Effective Date of 2009 Amendment note under section 1602 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.