Legal gun owners - you know, non-criminals as verified by the background checks that allow them to buy guns in the first place - are the only ones affected by this current ban.  There are no magic gates that keep criminals out of state forests. If the state sees it fit to disarm visitors to the forest, it should provide for their safety instead.  Since that's certainly not an option, it is imperative that those who chose to do so be given the option to be able to defend themselves from harm.  Not doing so ensures that only criminals are armed.  How is that safe?