Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 013 - Department of Parks and Tourism
Division 05 - Parks Division
Rule 013.05.10-004 - PD 3240 - Historic Weapons Safety Rules for Living History Participants
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
The purpose of these rules is to promote a safe environment for participants and spectators enjoy re-enactments and demonstrations involving historic weapons. Participants in activities involving historic weapons are expected to know and follow general firearms safety. Additionally, participants are expected to know and follow the specific safety and authenticity guidelines of the organization to which they belong.
While Arkansas State Parks has its own safety guidelines (P.D. 3230) to avoid confusion, it is preferable that participants strictly adhere to safety guidelines with which they are famili as long as those standards are acceptable to Arkansas State Parks.
These rules are designed to promote the safe and efficient interaction between participants and Arkansas State Parks personnel by utilizing the existing "chain of command" to facilitate that interaction.
I. PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS
Any person participating in an activity involving the use of black powder weapons or blank ammunition in an Arkansas State Park or at an event sanctioned by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, and not under the direct and controlling supervision of Arkansas State Parks (ASP) personnel, must comply with the following conditions:
or:
The UNIT must submit a completed Waiver and Release (see pages 5-8) signed by all members participating in the event to the designated State Parks Safety Officer prior to participation at each Arkansas State Park event.
II. RULES FOR PARTICIPATION
All participants must follow the safety rules and regulations of their respective UNIT and adhere to any additional limitations or safety rules that are presented by park staff or safety officers.
All scenarios, battlefield boundaries, and artillery placements will be approved by the designated State Park Safety Officer prior to the event.
III. ARTILLERY
In addition to the requirements above, all artillery commanders must attend organized training in the safe and authentic drill and firing of historic artillery. Commanders will be required to carry proof of the successful completion of such safety training. Examples of such organizations which provide the requisite training include, but are not limited to: United States Field Artillery Association, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, the National Park Service, North-South Skirmish Association, and safety programs of various state organizations.
Persons engaging in the firing of black powder artillery must be well trained for the position which they are performing. State Park Safety Officers will observe crews in action and may halt the firing of any piece for failure to follow proper safety precautions.
All artillery will be in "fixed" positions and will change positions once the scenario commences. State Park Safety Officers will mark the safe firing area with range stakes. Artillery fire will cease when participants enter this area.
In the event of a misfire that requires an artillery charge to be unloaded, the crew shall notify a State Park Safety Officer. The safety officer will clear and secure the scene, and oversee the unloading procedure.
Only full-scale artillery pieces in good condition will be allowed. Barrel length and/or wheel height (Mordecai specifications) may be used to determine whether a particular piece is full-scale. All artillery pieces will undergo a State Park Safety Officer inspection before participating.
IV. ADDITIONAL SAFETY RULES
Additional safety rules not included in this directive may be issued in writing to UNIT commanders or group leaders by Arkansas State Parks personnel. Such UNIT commanders or group leaders will be responsible for disseminating these additional safety rules to their respective members. The changing nature of equipment, supplies, and developments within the living history community necessitates the issuance of additional safety rules that supplement this directive to ensure the.safest.possible events for visitors, participants-and park staff.
V. RESERVED RIGHTS:
The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism or its representative reserves the right to limit or refuse participation of any individual or group which does not comply with these requirements or is deemed to pose a risk to safety.
Related PD: PD 3230 - Historic Weapons Rules and Regulations
APPROVED BY THE ARKANSAS STATE PARKS, RECREATION AND TRAVEL COMMISSION AT THE SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2010 MEETING AND FAVORABLY REVIEWED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE NOVEMBER 15, 2010 MEETING.
