Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Good afternoon,
New to the forum as well as owning a fire arm. I expect you will be seeing alot of me in the near furture. I recently purchased my first hand gun (SIG P226 Enhanced Elite 9mm). I don't work in the best area so I would like to carry. However I cannot carry in my work place. I have a few questions of clarity.

1. If I leave my weapon in the car, in my locked glove box loaded, is that breaking the law (all research I've done points to no, but I would just like confirmation). What if I am pulled for any reason and it is loaded while locked in glove box?

2. If I am OC'ing with OWB, on my 3-4 o'clock and I am in the car, it is still clearly visibile from the passenger side. Would that be considered concealed? Some say yes, some say no due to me not having the intent to conceal and is not "hidden from common observation". Would it be better for me to remove it an put it on the seat or leave it in the above description?

I appreciate your responses and advice ahead of time! Happy Monday!

Thanks. Your answers are what I assumed. But being new to the scene, definitely wanted some clarity.

As for situation number 2, what if the seatbelt covers it slightly. It is definitely still noticeable from the passegner side, just not the drivers. Still good to go?

I highly recommend you read this entire thread.

TenchCoxe wrote:I highly recommend you read this entire thread.

Thanks for the read. I have a lock on my glove box so when it is stored in there, it is always locked.

I am still somewhat foggy.Does this mean if you are your car and do NOT have a CHP, it must be in a "locked container".

This doesn't necessarily make sense, since I am carrying for self defense, if i can't have it holstered, what good will it do when it comes down to me having to use it?I would have to stop the car, turn it off, pull the key out, unlock my glovebox then retrieve my gun...

§ 18.2-308. States
For the purpose of this section, a weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.

B. This section shall not apply to any person while in his own place of abode or the curtilage thereof.
Except as provided in subsection J1, this section shall not apply to:
10. Any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private motor vehicle or vessel and such handgun is secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.

Section 10 looks like it is merely stating that it is "ok" to conceal this weapoin if you are in the car and it is in a secured container(glovebox or what have you).

As for the first section i quoted, does that mean its ok for me to carry OWB?
My above description of wearing it OWB at 3-4 o'clock is observable but in no way am i trying to hide the weapons true nature. It is visible and obvious until i get in the car and apply the saftey restraint in which the law orders me to wear. Without this seat belt it would be easier to see.




So does this mean I can still carry on my person using my OWB Holster or is that not advised?

As I always have understood it..OC on your waist is OK, also if you put your gun in the glove box or console it does not have to be locked ,,,the fact that it closes is enough to be secure IMHO...Others may see it differently but thats what I do and in 2 traffic stops I have had no problem/.

MWhiteDesigns wrote:I am still somewhat foggy.Does this mean if you are your car and do NOT have a CHP, it must be in a "locked container".

No.

(1) In general, it is legal in Virginia for any person who is not disqualified from possessing a handgun to carry it openly.

(2) If you want to carry a handgun "about your person" in a manner such that the gun is "hidden from common observation", then generally, you need a concealed handgun permit (CHP).

These rules are not different in your car than they are anywhere else. However, there are a few exceptions to the second rule. Although you generally need a CHP to carry a concealed handgun, you may legally conceal a handgun "secured in a container or compartment in a vehicle or vessel" without a CHP. The question of whether "secured" means the container or compartment must be locked is one that currently is being resolved in the courts. My position on that question, as I expressed in the other thread linked above, is that "secured" clearly does not mean "locked" - although it likely means "closed." A gun in a closed, latched glovebox would be "secured in a compartment in the vehicle," regardless of whether the glovebox was also locked.

If you do not have a CHP and do not want to keep your gun in the glovebox or center console, then you legally may carry it openly. You can have it on the seat, on the dash, center console, whatever. As long as it is not "hidden from common observation".

As far as whether having it in a holster on your hip while seated in the driver's seat with your belt fastened is "hidden from common observation," my position is that there is no solid yes/no answer on that, as it really depends on all of the facts and circumstances. There is Virginia case law providing precedent for an argument that if the only way the gun would be visible is for a person to stand in a particular vantage point to catch a glimpse it, it could be considered to be "hidden from common observation." This does not mean, however, that any time you have a gun in a holster, with a seatbelt passing over it, you're illegally carrying concealed.

Hello,

Firstly, welcome to VGOF! It's always nice to have new faces.

As to your question, I think the others have covered that pretty well.

What I want to chime in with is that you should really consider getting your CHP as soon as possible. It fixes a lot of the problems associated with open carrying, and with VA being a "Shall-Issue" State, why not?

Hope everything works out for you,
-Alex

I'm with Alex.... get your CHP

doubletap62 wrote: get your CHP

I couldn't agree more!