possible future virginian

[cowdog]

Hello Virginia gun owners,
I may be retiring and selling my northwest Pennsylvania farm in the next year or two. My wife and I have seriously discussed relocating to Virgina, for the warmer Winters and many historical sites. I own and like to shoot about anything from flintlocks to modern semi autos, but my real love is historical reproduction weapons. I have shot IDPA style matches, muzzle loader matches , and used my farm for Appleseeds until a local club took them over.

I have some questions for members, if I may?
1. Pennsylvania Gun laws seem pretty similar to Virginia, but I am wondering if your Commonwealth is moving more towards freedom or away from her?
2. can local zoning in rural areas pre-empt the right to shoot on your own private property? IF so, will it be codified in the County zoning ordinance?
3. is licensed carry legal while fishing?

thanks!

[SHMIV]

Off the top of my head, I can tell you that Open Carry is legal here, without requiring any sort of license.

Our current Governor is a carpet bagging tool of Hillary, and, as such, is anti-gun, anti-freedom, and anti-pretty much anything of significant value. But, Virginia is still a pretty nice place to be, assuming that you can avoid NORVA.

Other folks should be along shortly, and they'll be able to better help you on specifics, maybe throw out some legal codes, etc. I don't currently own any property, and I don't fish, so I am not familiar with those laws.

But, come on down. We'll be glad to have ya.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[OakRidgeStars]

Welcome to VGOF!

[Palladin]

[smltooner]

to the club.

[flyingron]

Virginia is fairly good gun wise (you'll find it slightly better than Pennsylvania I think). We've had some minor set back with the governor, but it's not all that bad. I think we had one piece of legislation (the privacy for CHP holders) get vetoed. Nice thing about Virginia governors, is that they aren't allowed to stay around that long.

Yes, the counties have rules on discharge of firearms (out in the open I'm presuming, rather than an indoor range). Even in Fairfax (one of the most "blue" and urban county), it's fixed by how close you are from the road and certain other properties (like schools or parks) as long as you post that firearms are in use.

Certain local hunting ordinances are indexed here: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... nances.pdf

There's no "license" for open carry. Open or concealed with a CHP, there's no prohibition on carrying while fishing.

You can get a CHP once you establish residency by taking an online course if you don't already have an NRA course certificate. Actually, if you want to get a hunting license, take the online hunting license course and that will cover both your hunting license and your CHP. You don't need to actually demonstrate any shooting (but god save us, if you haven't had any training in firearms, get some).

[cowdog]

thanks flyingron and everyone!

[tommy610]

I moved here from PA a couple years ago. Of course, you should look this up and read for yourself, but the differences that stick out in my mind are:

- Schools - VA is a way better - in VA - you can actually carry while dropping off your kid at school if you're just doing the in-and-out drop-off circle. This is leaps and bounds more convenient than PA, if that's your stage of life.
- Restaurants - PA is a little better - in VA, it is illegal to CCW while consuming alcohol in a public restaurant. Somehow, though, the fact that other people can see your firearm (OCing) means you are better at handling alcohol and your firearm at the same time, because this law only applies to CC.
- Church - PA is a little better - In VA you can carry if you have "good and sufficient reason". The last word on that was from the State Attorney General who said self defense meets this criteria. That's fine and all, but then why have it in the law at all?

Also, in general, my feeling is that here in VA, owning/carrying a gun is not quite the weird or anti-social thing that it is sometimes considered in PA. My experience.

One other thing... in VA, gun ranges/clubs are harder to find and way more expensive.

[wittmeba]

Maybe this will help.

According to this table Va is 24, Pa is 20 for friendly rankings.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/galleries/ga ... s-in-2013/

51 Washington DC
50 New Yourk
49 New Jersey
48 Massachusettes
47 California
46 Hawaii
45 Connecticut
44 Illinois
43 Maryland
42 Rhode Island
41 Delaware
40 Washington
39 Minnesota
38 Iowa
37 Colorado
36 New Mexico
35 Ohio
34 Nebraska
33 Michigan
32 Idaho
31 Arkansas
30 Oklahoma
29 Maine
28 Oregon
27 South Dakota
26 North Dakota
25 Wisconsin
24 Virginia
23 Tennessee
22 Nevada
21West Virginia
20 Pennsylvania
19 North Carolina
18 Mississippi
17 Louisiana
16 Indiana
15 Texas
14 South Carolina
13 Georgia
12 Florida
11 Montana
10 New Hampshire
9 Missouri
8 Kansas
7 Alabama
6 Wyoming
5 Kentucky
4 Utah
3 Alaska
2 Vermont
1 Arizona

Come on over - I think you will like it.

[cowdog]

I think member's assessments are pretty accurate as to the current state of freedom between the two Commonwealths. It does indeed look like Va has fewer shooting clubs. In rural central and western Pa. every county has three or four clubs with very low dues. I have not found much in the way of clubs in the farmville/pamplin/charlotte courhouse and appomattox areas, especially for handgun. Not a deal breaker if I can find a place to buy and build a range to shoot at home, but I am hoping on finding a club as a way to make new friends too.