LE Mags legal to use in VA?

[lyellowdragonl]

I searched in google but didnt really find my answer. I bought a used HK USP and it came with 2 LEO Mags im guessing made in 10/1994. Can i legally use/carry them if im not LEO?

[GS78]

what do you mean LEO magazines? if you are talking about high capacity, sure they are legal.

[lyellowdragonl]

they are marked for LEO/Gov use only

[OakRidgeStars]

Other than capacity, I can't imagine what could be special about them

Just tell people your name is Leo

[lyellowdragonl]

LOL anyone have a clear answer!?

[allingeneral]

Yes, the answer is that the only limitation on magazines in Virginia law is that someone without a CHP cannot use a magazine that holds more than 20 rounds. If you have a CHP, then you are exempt from this requirement.

[lyellowdragonl]

it only carrys 13rds. its the part where it says "restricted law enforcement / government use only" that worrys me

[allingeneral]

I would say that maybe they are stamped that way for contract purposes (i.e. they were sold to the government under contract) and were possibly sold to the private sector as surplus or something like that.

That's all just a guess - but there's definitely nothing illegal about having/using them that I'm aware of.

[GS78]

Hi my name is LEO, this is my brother SWAT.......

[LFS]

Yes, the answer is that the only limitation on magazines in Virginia law is that someone without a CHP cannot use a magazine that holds more than 20 rounds. If you have a CHP, then you are exempt from this requirement.

Actually, I don't think you can transport or openly carry a loaded magazine that holds more than 20 rounds if you don't have a CHP. And this only applies to certain counties and cities and isn't state wide. You can certainly own them and use them at a range even if you don't have a CHP.

BTW, I think they are stamped that way for the purposes of being able to sell them in Cali, Mass, Maryland, and DC... but I could be very wrong about that. Just a guess.

[ProShooter]

Yes, the answer is that the only limitation on magazines in Virginia law is that someone without a CHP cannot use a magazine that holds more than 20 rounds. If you have a CHP, then you are exempt from this requirement.

Actually, I don't think you can transport or openly carry a loaded magazine that holds more than 20 rounds if you don't have a CHP. And this only applies to certain counties and cities and isn't state wide. You can certainly own them and use them at a range even if you don't have a CHP.

BTW, I think they are stamped that way for the purposes of being able to sell them in Cali, Mass, Maryland, and DC... but I could be very wrong about that. Just a guess.

Your LE mags are fine. They are marked that way due to some other state's idiotic laws.

The statute, 18.2-287.4 is where the info comes from.

[allingeneral]

Actually, I don't think you can transport or openly carry a loaded magazine that holds more than 20 rounds if you don't have a CHP. And this only applies to certain counties and cities and isn't state wide. You can certainly own them and use them at a range even if you don't have a CHP.

After re-reading the statute, I have to agree with you that it applies to carrying a loaded weapon. However, this applies statewide - non-CHP holders cannot carry a loaded firearm that is capable of holding more than 20 rounds in the magazine. The part that applies only to specific jurisdictions is for shotguns - subsection (b) as shown below:

� 18.2-287.4. Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
Full text of 18.2-287.4 here

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry a loaded (a) semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (b) shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William.

[lyellowdragonl]

sweet thanks!

[ProShooter]

Actually, I don't think you can transport or openly carry a loaded magazine that holds more than 20 rounds if you don't have a CHP. And this only applies to certain counties and cities and isn't state wide. You can certainly own them and use them at a range even if you don't have a CHP.

After re-reading the statute, I have to agree with you that it applies to carrying a loaded weapon. However, this applies statewide - non-CHP holders cannot carry a loaded firearm that is capable of holding more than 20 rounds in the magazine. The part that applies only to specific jurisdictions is for shotguns - subsection (b) as shown below:

� 18.2-287.4. Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
Full text of 18.2-287.4 here

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry a loaded (a) semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (b) shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William.

That is not correct.

I only have a second here so bare with me. You have 2 things that are illegal, A or B

Try this:

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry a loaded (a) or (b) on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William.

[allingeneral]

alright then.

So, this is another case of "Get your CHP and it doesn't matter anyway"

Thanks for correcting my understanding of that statute ProShooter

[lyellowdragonl]

yea i have my CHP

[allingeneral]

Well you're good to go then

This thread kinda mutated into a different discussion about loaded firearm requirements for non-CHP holders. I guess you know the answer to your question now though... no problems...have fun and be safe!

[CCFan]

The reason they may be marked is because one of the provisions of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban was that any "large capacity" magazine that could hold more than 10 rounds had to be marked as to when it was made, and many were simply marked LE to mark it as high-cap... it's expired now, but New York passed a similar version of the Clinton-era Federal Assault Weapons Ban law with the horrible distinction that it did not have a sunset provision. Still illegal in NY, but as everyone above posted - completely good for us fellas (and gals) in good 'ol Virginia...

For more info (if you're into the historical side) check it out here and browse the section titled "Assault weapons ban in New York politics" - it's crazy...

[TheWolfhound]

+1 to the last post. He finally answered your question. Hold over from the "Assault Weapons Ban" now long expired for most of us, thank goodness. Only an issue in states with high capacity limits. Rather than stop making them entirely, they marked them for LEO use. No legal issue in Virginia at all.