Carrying in and around Charlottesville

[ccbob]

I am going to Monticello and UVA next week. What areas are posted/off-limits for concealled carry? Other than K-12, restaurants, fed bldgs and the normal VA places?

Appreciate the feedback.

[fordhook2000]

I'm from Charlottesville, going to UVA, and have been carrying on and off since I got my CHP a few months ago (and OCed once or twice before that). "On and off" because UVA policy prohibits me from carrying/possessing on UVA property, so I only carry when I'm "home."

So far, I haven't noticed any postings, and the only thing I've had to be wary of was ABC establishments (though July 1st is rapidly approaching...) and UVA property.

I haven't been up to Monticello in some time, so I don't know what their policy is.

Technically speaking, since (I assume, as a visitor) you aren't a student or faculty/staff, UVA--as a state institution on public property--can't legally forbid you from carrying on Grounds. However, be advised that their written policy *DOES* forbid you from doing so, even if that policy is technically illegal. In other words: be prepared to be hassled if you're found out.

I find it ironic that after the Yeardley Love/George Hugueley incident, a recent 5 on 1 mugging, and several other events this year, the Chief of UVA Police has sent emails charging the University community with "taking responsibility for [their] own safety" and the like while University policy prevents us from doing so... You didn't ask me for a soapbox though

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions!

[ccbob]

Thanks Fordhook.

Luckily I have not read their "policies" and don't intend to. Ignorance here is bliss.

Please don't tell them that you told me.

[fordhook2000]

Tell whom I said what?



Enjoy your visit.

[OakRidgeStars]

I don't see anything that says you can't carry at Monticello

http://www.monticello.org/

[ccbob]

Thanks all. I had checked sites but just wanted othr opinions. 2 bad we have to jump thru hoops

[cigarmanva]

i'd be far more worried about the citizens freaking out and calling mwag. this town is so pc it's sickening, i still get dirty looks for driving my mustang.

[ProShooter]

I don't see anything that says you can't carry at Monticello

http://www.monticello.org/

FYI - http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/view_topic ... monticello

[fireman836]

I don't see anything that says you can't carry at Monticello

http://www.monticello.org/

they don't post see http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/view_topic ... Monticello

from that thread
SAvage410 wrote:

I just received a response to my original e-mail:

Dear Mr. Tansill,

I am Gary Sandling, the Vice President of Visitor Programs and Services
at Monticello. Your email was sent to me regarding your dissatisfaction
for being asked to store your firearm when visiting Monticello. As you
understand, Monticello is owned (since 1923) by a private non-profit
foundation and receives no ongoing public funding. We do ask visitors
who carry a firearm to store it and not carry it on Foundation property.
We do not post this policy on our website or on any signage, frankly,
because the number of times that we have to ask visitors to comply with
this policy is very low. I am sorry that you found this problematic.

Although I realize that you find the policy unacceptable, I hope you
will at least consider why we think such a policy necessary. We have
hundreds, even thousands, of visitors every day at Monticello, and many
of them would be very uncomfortable standing in close proximity to a
person, to them a complete stranger, openly armed. We know this because
of past experiences where visitors were uncomfortable in exactly these
circumstances. We have the policy for this reason. It is not a political
statement. I understand and respect your objection to the policy but I
hope you can, at the very least, understand why we have it.

I am authorizing our Accounting department to refund the costs of the
tickets for you and your wife. I hope she still had an enjoyable visit
despite these circumstances. I appreciate that you took the time to
write to us and tell us about your dissatisfaction with our policy.

Sincerely,

Gary Sandling

My reply:

Dear Mr. Sandling:

Thank you for your response. I do understand that some persons might be uncomfortable around an armed stranger. I take it that these same persons must therefore be uncomfortable in the presence of armed police, since the vast majority of policemen are strangers to the vast majority of the population?

At one time most people were "uncomfortable" having blacks co-mingle with whites. After much struggle and debate, we no longer deny people their civil rights based on the color of their skin. In fact, we passed a constitutional amendment outlawing slavery (the 13th), another that guarantees civil rights (the 14th), and a third which stipulates that voting rights shall not be abridged due to race, among other things (the 15th). I believe that somewhere in the constitution is contained another amendment dealing with firearms, and the right of the citizenry to keep and bear such weapons. I believe it is the Second Amendment.

Consider also that most mass killings have occurred in "gun free zones". Virginia Tech, Columbine High School, the West Nickel Mines School (Amish children), and the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC come immediately to mind. A "gun free zone" is, in truth, a "Criminal Empowerment" zone, and I for one am "uncomfortable" playing the role of disarmed victim. You, however, are perfectly willing to sacrifice my comfort to promote a false sense of safety amongst the uninformed. (Incidentally - we visited Miche Tavern, Jefferson Vineyards, and Ash Lawn highlands among other places while we were in Charlottesville. I was armed in the same manner at each of those places as I had been at Monticello. At no point other than at Monticello was this issue raised).

Lastly, if Thomas Jefferson were alive today, he would be shocked and appalled at your policy. Your own website contains references to quotes from Jefferson regarding firearms or material he read concerning firearms, the stifling of rights, and the willingness of others to ignore laws and do harm to unarmed citizens. I refer you to this link on your website:

http://wiki.monticello.org/mediawiki/in ... ng_of_arms

I invite you to rethink your policy in light of the foregoing.

[ProShooter]

I don't see anything that says you can't carry at Monticello

http://www.monticello.org/

they don't post see http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/view_topic ... Monticello

I just said that! haha

[OakRidgeStars]

Good find. Thanks Jim

[ccbob]

i'd be far more worried about the citizens freaking out and calling mwag. this town is so pc it's sickening, i still get dirty looks for driving my mustang.

Have to cross that bridge when I get to it. If someone knows I'm carrying then he/she must have his/her hand in my pants. Man -- broken wrist? Woman -- hmmmmm.

[fordhook2000]

Thanks for the link ProShooter, I found some good "ammunition" (TJ quotes) for my upcoming email composition to the UVA Chief of Police.

[Reverenddel]

I liked the idea of an OC' event at a historic site... Like Colonial Williamsburg, or even Monticello.

Bully one, shame on you... Bully 50... how's that working out for you?