I used to think Virginia was pro 2A

[P99]

But after living in Kentucky for 3 years, I've gotta say this commonwealth is anything but friendly.

Couple of things I find anti 2a
1) massive amounts of police in Va.
2) CCW doesn't exempt one from firearm background checks. In Ky a cdwl license means you've already proven eligible to own gun.
3) " big scary black gun" requirement for additional paperwork. Ridiculous.
4) no weapons permit, conceal carry only applies to handguns
5) state preemption doesn't apply to rifle/shotguns
6) state preemption doesn't apply to hunting.
7) seems there is a large amount of older shooters who believe in 2a for hunting only.
gun ranges are sparse. Nothing comparative to say Knob Creek.

The only thing va has that I wish ky had was the 45 day de facto ccl. I'm currently waiting at 4 months for my stuff to get back.

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[vabeachman]

I think Va. is gun friendly. Gotta shooting range close to my place. Check out CU2 shooting range in VA. Beach. Second Amendment was not written about hunting, but to protect our other constitutional rights. Never had to conceal a long gun, can open carry without any type of permit, only need a permit of conceal carry. I travel frequently through Kentucky on I64. Beautiful country. Beautiful horse farms. Seriously think about moving there. See more Kentucky cops on about 160 miles on I64 than I do Virginia cops on 300 miles on I64 in Va. Both states have too many cops I think. No restrictions on private sales either.

[Swampman]

VA is gun friendly, as long you aren't in NOVA, Hampton Roads, Norfolk or other densely populated Democrat strongholds. That's where all the bed-wetters live. I'm out here in the northern Shen. Valley and don't have any problems. Occasionally I get funny looks, but I don't give a rip. They'd be glad I was packin' if they were being threatened by some goon. If I go into the aforementioned battle zones, I conceal to keep the hub-bub to a minimum. This ain't Kentucky Toto!

[GeneFrenkle]

No issues in central va. In fact there was a dude doing the walmart oc in culpeper thos evening.

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[vabeachman58]

Hey I live in Va. Beach. We got a nice shooting range.

[irishtank1212]

No problems in king George....lots of open carry ....concealed too

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[rlbellco72]

No problems in king George....lots of open carry ....concealed too

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+1

[wally626]

VA is real friendly for purchase and ownership but not so good for shooting.

Things have been slowly changing, There has been some efforts to get the state to change how it does background checks, but nothing has passed so far. I have not heard of any efforts to repeal the assault weapons ban in the large cities but since the ban is pretty limited I am not sure much effort has been expended on it. Get a permit and ignore it completely or just do not carry larger then 20 round magazines in your open carry pistols.

Shooting and hunting has a lot of local regulation, but that is also slowly changing. My county just dropped their shooting ban, they still restrict hunting to .22 and shotguns.

In any case welcome to VA and join the VCDL and get involved in changing the laws if you do not like the current ones.

[CalebDor]

Hi there!

Compared to the states immediately north of our Commonwealth we are extremely Pro second amendment. I live in Fredericksburg and I see folks, both men and women, open carrying all the time. The nearest range for pistol firing is a bit of a ways (about eight miles north in Stafford) but don't let the lack of ranges fool you. Virginia citizens are (discreetly) armed to the teeth.

Be well you!

[dusterdude]

Wanna see cops?come to colonial heights.seems like one cop for every citizen

[CalebDor]

Wanna see cops?come to colonial heights.seems like one cop for every citizen

I recently visited Maryland with my lady friend to take her mom some Thanksgiving dinner. I was floored when I saw the laws in effect in Maryland while researching whether I could open carry or carry concealed there. Open carrying in Virginia, a completely legal act in the commonwealth, is a mandatory prison sentence in Maryland. Concealed carry without a "may" issue permit has even more penalties

When we crossed the Woodrow Wilson bridge I saw enough Maryland State Troopers patrolling interstate 95 to choke a hippopotamus. Feelings reminiscent of leaving west Germany to enter East Germany to get to West Berlin came to mind.

Virginia may have it's flaws but free people with firearms are infinitely more welcome here than further north. We just have to remain vigilant so that the norm north of us doesn't become the norm here.

Be well one and all!

[SHMIV]

I've had no issues in the Hampton Roads area, at all.

Interesting thing with the KY police; my co-driver and I were rolling through there to grab a load of windows a few weeks ago. Co-driver was pushing that rig at about 15 over and rolled up on a speed trap. The cop didn't move, he just flashed his lights at us. Co-driver dropped down to the speed limit and we kept rolling. So, I reckon that I ought not harbour ill feelings towards KY LEO.

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[j1mmyd]

I've mentioned this before, but having spent 8 years in NYC and Westchester County, NY; then one in San Francisco, Virginia is like heaven. Just don't take it all for granted. Arlington and other parts of NoVA *so badly* want to be as "cosmopolitan and enlightened" (read "unarmed") as they see other metro areas on TV are...

[Reverenddel]

The original post is correct though in a LEGAL process.

Kentucky IS the most Pro-Gun state in the Union though! Seriously.

We've adjusted to the situation, but he's right. Virginia is fairly Pro-Gun compared to MD, D.C., and even N.C.

But KY, and TN are WAY more pro-gun!

[TallEd]

...But KY, and TN are WAY more pro-gun!

...and they both make better whiskey.

[GeneFrenkle]

...But KY, and TN are WAY more pro-gun!

...and they both make better whiskey.

But in some counties, you can't drink it.

[vabeachman58]

I like Virginia whiskey.

vg_portraitfox.jpg (5.15 KiB) Viewed 2369 times

[SHMIV]

Virginia Gentleman is good stuff

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[safaridave]

Dude, I just moved here from Los Angeles. Don't even TRY to tell me that VA isn't 2A friendly. You don't know how bad it is on the west coast. Try living a summer in San Francisco, where they are trying to run the ONE gun shop out of town on a daily basis. Try to take the few legally owned firearms you DO have to a range in LA... You need to have a damn checklist of locks to comply with transportation laws and blankets to cover them so you don't get searched "for the officers safety". Read about the new gun ban ..er... "safety" laws the Dem supermajority senate and house are proposing... etc, etc ad nauseam.

I am here now, and let me tell you... its total culture shock to not be treated like a criminal. Having a loaded handgun openly on your front seat? Its LEGAL? Unbelievable... CHL without having to have political "connections"? Shock and awe.

If you see issues with VA, join the VCDL and NRA and make the change you want to see. Constitutional Carry? Lets do it. More shooting ranges? No prob... they want that too. Just dont say VA is "Anti-2A" until you live in Kalifornistan.

[ShotgunBlast]

If anything this thread proves, it's that it all comes down to a matter of perspective. Comparing VA to states like MD and CA isn't even sportsman like. It does look like that when you look at the top tier 2A states, VA is lagging behind.

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