May be moving to Herndon/Sterling/Chantilly area...

[MrFiredUp]

Just figured I'd start doing some research on how friendly it is in the Herndon area. So far, the crime rate seems to be not that bad, the schools seem good (I've got 4 kids under 7), and the carry laws seem to be even better than PA for the most part.

I was mainly curious if anybody had "inside info" so to speak from that area. My brother lives in Sterling which seems nice, and his wife works in Herndon and she says it's not bad there either. Problem is, They don't even own a gun much less carry. So, they're not real "connected" to the 2a aspect of the area.

Any info is much appreciated... off to other forums;)...

[OakRidgeStars]

Welcome to VGOF

[Yarddawg]

aboard. Sorry, I can't help you much concerning the Sterling area.

4 kids under 7? There I can help you...you know that they have found a cure for that, right?

[MrFiredUp]

aboard. Sorry, I can't help you much concerning the Sterling area.

4 kids under 7? There I can help you...you know that they have found a cure for that, right?

HAHA! Yes, I am aware of the cure. I have an appointment to get "cured" very soon. If I have any more kids I won't be able to buy any more guns. And, my arsenal is quite low because of that boating accident...

[FrankG0]

Welcome! I live in that area. Of course it's a huge area you stated there! I live closer to Sterling Cascades Ashburn. Any specific questions? I have had my CHP going on a year now.

[MrFiredUp]

Welcome! I live in that area. Of course it's a huge area you stated there! I live closer to Sterling Cascades Ashburn. Any specific questions? I have had my CHP going on a year now.

I know I kinda put a broad range in there. Let me try to be more specific so I can get some info.

Long story short... I would be working in Chantilly, my brother lives in Sterling. I'd like to be as close to both of those places as possible. Close to Chantilly because I don't want a long drive, and close to my brother because his wife and my wife get along great. My wife is not a very outgoing person so I'd like to be close to my brother so my wife will have someone to talk to until she gets more comfortable with the neighbors, etc. That's why I picked Herndon (kinda in the middle). Someone else told me that Herndon wasn't the greatest area so any info on decent places to live would be good too.

Sorry for rambling, here's my bullet point questions...

-What areas near Chantilly/Herndon/Sterling are decent areas and where you can find a three bedroom+ place on an approximate $1500 a month budget?

-How 2a friendly is the area? I carry in the southern PA area everyday. I have my LTCF (PA's equivalent to the CHP) but I prefer OC. How likely is it going to be for me to get "picked on" by PD in the area? I know this area well and don't have many problems. Actually, the local PD here give me a smile, nod, and one time one of the older officers said "Hey, looks good." Just curious about that area in comparison.

-Lastly, how difficult is the CHP to get? I've read about the process and that I would need some sort of safety course, etc. You don't need that in PA. Last time I took any sort of "formal" training was when I was 15 (hunter safety course), and asking me to find the certificate at this point would be just short of impossible. So, what type of course would I need to take in order to get the CHP? I know my PA LTCF has reciprocity in VA, but, I would need to get a VA license and then a CHP within 60 days of moving if I'm not mistaken.

Sorry for the novel. Thank you in advance for the help!

[gunderwood]

-What areas near Chantilly/Herndon/Sterling are decent areas and where you can find a three bedroom+ place on an approximate $1500 a month budget?

Not the nicer places for sure. Have you talked to your brother about how expensive it is around here?

-How 2a friendly is the area? I carry in the southern PA area everyday. I have my LTCF (PA's equivalent to the CHP) but I prefer OC. How likely is it going to be for me to get "picked on" by PD in the area? I know this area well and don't have many problems. Actually, the local PD here give me a smile, nod, and one time one of the older officers said "Hey, looks good." Just curious about that area in comparison.

Like the rest of NOVA...you will likely get both extremes if you OC.

-Lastly, how difficult is the CHP to get? I've read about the process and that I would need some sort of safety course, etc. You don't need that in PA. Last time I took any sort of "formal" training was when I was 15 (hunter safety course), and asking me to find the certificate at this point would be just short of impossible. So, what type of course would I need to take in order to get the CHP? I know my PA LTCF has reciprocity in VA, but, I would need to get a VA license and then a CHP within 60 days of moving if I'm not mistaken.

Not hard at all if you don't have a record, but some localities do like to give you the run around. Take the course, it mostly focuses on VAs gun laws. You likely won't learn much about gun safety that you don't already know. Join VCDL. The little wallet card containing a summary of the laws is worth it alone IMHO.

[MrFiredUp]

-What areas near Chantilly/Herndon/Sterling are decent areas and where you can find a three bedroom+ place on an approximate $1500 a month budget?

Not the nicer places for sure. Have you talked to your brother about how expensive it is around here?

I have talked to him and done the research on the net as much as I can find. I found some decent places (at least they look decent from the pics), but I'm always looking for more info where I can find it.

-How 2a friendly is the area? I carry in the southern PA area everyday. I have my LTCF (PA's equivalent to the CHP) but I prefer OC. How likely is it going to be for me to get "picked on" by PD in the area? I know this area well and don't have many problems. Actually, the local PD here give me a smile, nod, and one time one of the older officers said "Hey, looks good." Just curious about that area in comparison.

Like the rest of NOVA...you will likely get both extremes if you OC.

Gotcha. Do you all organize OC meets and such in the area?

-Lastly, how difficult is the CHP to get? I've read about the process and that I would need some sort of safety course, etc. You don't need that in PA. Last time I took any sort of "formal" training was when I was 15 (hunter safety course), and asking me to find the certificate at this point would be just short of impossible. So, what type of course would I need to take in order to get the CHP? I know my PA LTCF has reciprocity in VA, but, I would need to get a VA license and then a CHP within 60 days of moving if I'm not mistaken.

Not hard at all if you don't have a record, but some localities do like to give you the run around. Take the course, it mostly focuses on VAs gun laws. You likely won't learn much about gun safety that you don't already know. Join VCDL. The little wallet card containing a summary of the laws is worth it alone IMHO.


No record for me. Which course are you referring to and where do I get more info on it? Also, I intend to join VCDL if things go the way they look like they're going. I am currently a member of the FOAC (Firearm Owners Against Crime headed by Kim Stolfer up here in PA) and am currently in the process of organizing a 2a rally here in my area in the Juneish time frame. So, I like to stay connected to the organizations that make a difference.

[Jakeiscrazy]

I was just up in Herndon on a school field trip to Cisco. Seemed like a nice area. IIRC it's kinda close to the NRA range and museum.

[MrFiredUp]

Thanks for all the kind welcome posts everyone. I appreciate it.

[pete]

I live in Herndon and work in Chantilly. Probably repeating what a few others have said but a few comments:

Like most of Fairfax County, the area is pretty nice with decent neighborhoods and good schools. A lot of professional, white-collar types. Good shopping centers, close to major highways, and three indoor shooting ranges nearby.

You'll want to avoid a few block area in the middle of the main town of Herndon, centered at the intersection of Elden and Alabama. Its densely populated by immigrants from south of the border and has some MS-13 gang activity. That area also got some national attention a year or so ago about the large number of hispanic day-laborers that used to congregate outside the 7-11 and drive regular customers away. But I don't want to make it sound worse than it is. That area is pretty small and contained, the day-laborers are gone, no one I know has ever had any problems there, and the rest of the area is fine. A couple miles away, old town Herndon has some nice bars and restaurants.

OC is a problem in my opinion, not so much from LE but from the general urban, liberal make-up of the area. As a few other posters have noted on VGOF, Northern Virginia sometimes feels more like DC or MD than it does the rest of VA. The government bureaucrats and soccer moms just don't get it and freak when they see someone open carrying. If you're okay with that type of attention, go for it. Otherwise stick with CC. The VA CHP is easy to get .

[MrFiredUp]

I live in Herndon and work in Chantilly. Probably repeating what a few others have said but a few comments:

Like most of Fairfax County, the area is pretty nice with decent neighborhoods and good schools. A lot of professional, white-collar types. Good shopping centers, close to major highways, and three indoor shooting ranges nearby.

You'll want to avoid a few block area in the middle of the main town of Herndon, centered at the intersection of Elden and Alabama. Its densely populated by immigrants from south of the border and has some MS-13 gang activity. That area also got some national attention a year or so ago about the large number of hispanic day-laborers that used to congregate outside the 7-11 and drive regular customers away. But I don't want to make it sound worse than it is. That area is pretty small and contained, the day-laborers are gone, no one I know has ever had any problems there, and the rest of the area is fine. A couple miles away, old town Herndon has some nice bars and restaurants.

OC is a problem in my opinion, not so much from LE but from the general urban, liberal make-up of the area. As a few other posters have noted on VGOF, Northern Virginia sometimes feels more like DC or MD than it does the rest of VA. The government bureaucrats and soccer moms just don't get it and freak when they see someone open carrying. If you're okay with that type of attention, go for it. Otherwise stick with CC. The VA CHP is easy to get .

Thank you for the information. It means a lot that you all are willing to help me out with this.

I understand what you're saying about the problems with the "government bureaucrats" and the "soccer moms". It just happens to be that where I'm from the "soccer moms" are willing to stand up for their rights as much as I am (please google the name "Meleanie Hain').

As far as the the government type people, I've been working hard on that up here in PA. I've been doing my part with the FOAC (Kim Stolfer) and the forums I post with to try and normalize OC. I've done a few OC rallys and I'm planning another one soon so people can see that a person carrying a firearm is not a threat.

I hope you understand that it's not about "attention". I want people to see the truth behind the second amendment and realize that I'm not trying to be a "show off" or "get attention", I want people to see that law abiding citizens carrying firearms are not a threat to society. We are an empowerment. We have the right and the ability to protect ourselves. We have the right and the ability to protect ourselves from the worthless scum like the MS-13. And if we don't protect ourselves, who will? According to the United States Supreme Court, the police have no duty to protect us.

I'll hop down off my soapbox here to simply say thanks for the information. What you said struck a cord with me and I hope I didn't offend you. It's been nice to be welcomed into a new online community of people with similar ideals. I look forward to future posts.

[zephyp]

[pete]

I'll hop down off my soapbox here to simply say thanks for the information. What you said struck a cord with me and I hope I didn't offend you. It's been nice to be welcomed into a new online community of people with similar ideals. I look forward to future posts.

No, I get it man, no problem. I just wanted to let you know the general atmosphere around here and how the OC would likely be received by the local sheep. I'm not particularly into OC myself, but I absolutely support your right to do so.

[Oldtimer]

to the forum

[Palladin]

[MrFiredUp]

I'll hop down off my soapbox here to simply say thanks for the information. What you said struck a cord with me and I hope I didn't offend you. It's been nice to be welcomed into a new online community of people with similar ideals. I look forward to future posts.

No, I get it man, no problem. I just wanted to let you know the general atmosphere around here and how the OC would likely be received by the local sheep. I'm not particularly into OC myself, but I absolutely support your right to do so.

I do appreciate the info/"heads up". Maybe if there were more people like us in the area, we could make some changes in the mentality of the sheeple before the area gets too far gone.

I really hope everything goes the way I'm thinking it will. I'd love to join you guys in the challenge of changing NOVA for the better.

[gunderwood]

I'll hop down off my soapbox here to simply say thanks for the information. What you said struck a cord with me and I hope I didn't offend you. It's been nice to be welcomed into a new online community of people with similar ideals. I look forward to future posts.

No, I get it man, no problem. I just wanted to let you know the general atmosphere around here and how the OC would likely be received by the local sheep. I'm not particularly into OC myself, but I absolutely support your right to do so.

I do appreciate the info/"heads up". Maybe if there were more people like us in the area, we could make some changes in the mentality of the sheeple before the area gets too far gone.

I really hope everything goes the way I'm thinking it will. I'd love to join you guys in the challenge of changing NOVA for the better.

Uh oh, cue the OC haters in 3...2...1...

[OakRidgeStars]

Uh oh, cue the OC haters in 3...2...1...

No comment

[MrFiredUp]

Uh oh, cue the OC haters in 3...2...1...

Whoops. Did I disturb a hornets nest? Being new to the forum, I haven't got a real good feel for the people here just yet. I've been told I'm a bit... shall we say... opinionated?