I first want to say thanks for putting up with all of my questions lately. You guys have been so helpful with all of my questions. I'm still learning a lot when it comes to OC.
This question I have comes from an encounter I had with DNR in a county park early this summer and preemption.
I was approached by a park employee for having a canoe in a body of water at a county park. Apparently despite a lack of restriction of this activity on any sign, the park website, or any list I could find, it is in fact a no-no to launch a watercraft from anywhere other than a recognized boat launch. I didn't know this at the time. When told "We don't allow boats in here" I told the employee that I looked and couldn't find any restrictions, but began pulling up my anchor. He insisted, so I asked if he could tell me where I could find it.
I assure you that I was compliant and polite, but inquisitive.
After a short time, he came back and showed me the statute in writing that applies to all county parks. I thanked him and began loading the rest of my stuff.
Apparently in the time it took for him to come back, he said something to the DNR officers on duty in the park about a mouthy guy in a canoe who kept saying "show me". Again I assure you, I was very polite and even told they employee when he came back that I didn't want to cause trouble and thanked him for showing me the rules in writing.
Well, here come the two DNR officers on bikes (tight shorts and all) with a serious attitude. For some reason I've never met a DNR officer who wasn't in need of switching to decaf. They confront me about being belligerent and I explain the situation and insist that I was not trying to be impolite or non-compliant, but was simply currious as to why I didn't find any restrictions when I went looking for them. I informed the officer (as soon as he would let me get a word in) that I was a CPL holder and was carrying a pistol. He took my information and wrote down my name. I didn't think it unreasonable because I was being stopped by what seemed to them a legitimate reason.
Anyhow.... here's the reason I'm posting. He said that I could not carry in the park. I said, "Okay, I won't bring it back, but I thought that MI law superseded local ordinance and"...(interrupted) Officer, "The park can make any rules it wants and if a park employee tells you you can't park there or to move your car, you have to do it. I bet you also didn't know it is against the law to molest a turtle in our parks either did you!"
This guy was doing his best to assert his authority and make me an idiot. I was mad as a hornet to be treated like a child, but kept my composure and said a lot of "yes, sir and no, sir".
So...Can a county park restrict open or concealed carry? Doesn't seem right to me, but I want to be legal.
