Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

ShortMan wrote:

FrankG0 wrote:Navy Federal Credit Union at Ashburn just put up a sign.
I have been carrying in there since I received my CHP but now this!!
Oh well I guess I need to send an email to Cutler Dawson the CEO...

Banks I kinda understand. They are paranoid and to them anyone with a gun is a potential robber. BUT, they still need an armed guard of their own to actually enforce this rule.
As stated many times, criminals dont care about the law, thats why they're criminals. If he doesnt see a guard inside and a sign posted out front saying "no guns" then the place just made itself a nice fat target.
The one in Manassas has no such policy (yet) but they also have no guards.

Why is it rational to consider someone with a gun a threat? Simple possession of a firearm does not constitute a reasonable threat. If someone is afraid of that they have a phobia. There are numerous instances where an actual threat sees someone OCing and leaves. There was a video I thought someone posted on here of a banks security camera showing a masked man entering with a gun, stopping for a few seconds, and then leaving because a customer was OCing.

Why is it rational to consider someone with a gun a threat?

Personally, I don't view people _carrying_ a sidearm as a threat. It's nice to know there's possible backup if needed. Perhaps the rationalization could be fear of the unknown as people in suburban to urban areas (preponderance of the population) are less exposed to real firearms, their use, and the responsible individuals that carry. This gap can easily be filled with popular movie/tv/video game myths. It's natural to fear the unknown and presume knowledge from cursory examination. This might make for an interesting thesis for someone.

The military, as I understand it, has acknowledged the lack of understanding/education by altering training over the last 50 years in an attempt to account for recruit's lack of knowledge. Could someone with more knowledge comment on this?

Thoughts?

The sight of a person with a gun causing fear is a programmed reaction much like the sight of a Pit Bull or Doberman freaking some people out, Nobody is born fearing guns. It's exposure to a certain type of negative stimulus that creates the fear. Just look at the hogwash the anti's throw out there along with the politicians and other adult(?) idiots that support it and it's easy to see how things can get out of hand. Some are going to take their harpings to heart and believe it while others will choose to ignore it. If you tell a child guns are bad or that all dogs bite as they grow up you will in effect have programmed that kid to react in a negative way every time they come in contact with that which is bad to them. IMHO Gun phobia comes from that type of negative programming and its a constant uphill battle to show them the good side of guns because of it.

GeneFrenkle wrote:

Why is it rational to consider someone with a gun a threat?

Personally, I don't view people _carrying_ a sidearm as a threat. It's nice to know there's possible backup if needed. Perhaps the rationalization could be fear of the unknown as people in suburban to urban areas (preponderance of the population) are less exposed to real firearms, their use, and the responsible individuals that carry. This gap can easily be filled with popular movie/tv/video game myths. It's natural to fear the unknown and presume knowledge from cursory examination. This might make for an interesting thesis for someone.

Exactly. It isn't rational, but I didn't say it wasn't real. People are usually fearful of things they don't understand. Throw in a nice dose of mythology and fear politics and it is understandable why they are afraid, but that doesn't make it rational. It is a by product of ignorance.

OK, last time I went up to the Manassas branch they had a new sign in the window banning firearms.
What they did NOT have was an armed guard, so they are pretty much announcing their vulnerability to the whole world.

The American Legion Post #180 is firearm-unfriendly. I learned that when I attended a recent Town Hall for the local state Senator and Delegate.

Walked in OC'ing a nice, freshly cleaned and spiffed-up wheelgun. Was also wearing one of my "SF Liberal With A Gun" shirts with a VCDL member sticker on it. The state Senator and Delegate both welcomed me, and we talked for a bit. I asked which seat to take, they said take any one. They also suggested I partake of some of the donuts, cakes, and coffee.

Went to go wash my hands before eating. When I came out of the men's room, two people, a man and a woman, both apparently in about their 50's or 60's, started asking me if I had a permit for "that thing". The man in particular got very insistent that "those are not allowed here!" Well, another older man came up, apparently the Post president, saying, "this is private property, and we have a 'no weapons' rule here." We talked for a little bit, and the Post president actually looked like he wanted to just let it go. Sadly, the first man was a yap-dog and wouldn't let it go ("RULES ARE RULES! IT'S IN OUR CONSTITUTION! RULES ARE RULES!").

I was given the choice of either putting my firearm in the car or leaving the property. Since I wasn't about to leave an unattended firearm under any circumstances, and especially so now that everyone had seen me with it, I chose to leave.

As a veteran, I'm amazed that my fellow veterans would support such a violation of the spirit of part of our Constitution. Yes, they have the right on their property. But...how could they?

@T - I'm with ya on fellow vets not pro-Constitution, but you should see the folks still on active duty that fall into the same category. Really makes you wonder what they were doing when they raised their right hand and repeated after the guy out front.

Lynhaven mall in Virginia Beach has very small "No Firearms" posted at some entrances where they have mall rules posted. Superior Pawn in Virginia Beach sells guns and ammo but has a sign posted outside that no loaded firearms allowed inside.

ouchy wrote:Superior Pawn in Virginia Beach sells guns and ammo but has a sign posted outside that no loaded firearms allowed inside.

I make my own decisions on carry in most stores in general. I refuse to shop any gun store that requires disarming. The reason is two fold; there are folks fiddling with their weapons in their cars in the parking lot, and the goblins know that the cars in the lot most likely have guns in them for the taking. Combat Solutions was one such shop in Fredericksburg, they're now out of business. Replaced by Red Onyx with the same inane rules. I will not patronize.

NewColonial wrote:

ouchy wrote:Superior Pawn in Virginia Beach sells guns and ammo but has a sign posted outside that no loaded firearms allowed inside.

I make my own decisions on carry in most stores in general. I refuse to shop any gun store that requires disarming. The reason is two fold; there are folks fiddling with their weapons in their cars in the parking lot, and the goblins know that the cars in the lot most likely have guns in them for the taking. Combat Solutions was one such shop in Fredericksburg, they're now out of business. Replaced by Red Onyx with the same inane rules. I will not patronize.

+1 Same reason I shun gun shows...

zephyp wrote:@T - I'm with ya on fellow vets not pro-Constitution, but you should see the folks still on active duty that fall into the same category. Really makes you wonder what they were doing when they raised their right hand and repeated after the guy out front.

Gotta agree there. I remember your telling us about a certain military officer some months back that didn't accept the 2A for its original purpose. Same applies for our elected officials.

I found out something else recently, too. The Dale City Gun Show is held at the VFW post on Minnieville Road. Apparently they have a similar no-guns policy, despite the fact that a gun show is regularly held there! I dun' get that one. Apparently it's not just that post, either; it's a national VFW policy that all chapters must accept in order to be VFW chapters. He's going to check on that further for us.

zephyp wrote: +1 Same reason I shun gun shows...

I know why they do it at the gun shows, so I asked 'em. Apparently they can't get insurance unless all folks who are not LEO's unload their firearms. They've told me they'd rather that not be the case, but without insurance, they can't run the gun show, so they grudgingly go along with it. However, if a BG were to try to play "shoot 'em up" in a gun show, every VCDL member behind that booth not only carries a gun, but also has ammo (speed loader or magazine), and we all can load our firearms in a few seconds. Same applies for several vendors there. The BG would NOT get far, I assure you.

For this reason, I continue to attend the gun shows, with the hope that someday this inane rule will go away.

I don't worry about bad guys shooting up gun shows or gun stores. I worry about people unnecessarily handling weapons in their cars and that for bad guys to steal guns from cars in the parking lots, since they know folks had to leave them.

CowboyT wrote:

zephyp wrote: +1 Same reason I shun gun shows...

I know why they do it at the gun shows, so I asked 'em. Apparently they can't get insurance unless all folks who are not LEO's unload their firearms. They've told me they'd rather that not be the case, but without insurance, they can't run the gun show, so they grudgingly go along with it. However, if a BG were to try to play "shoot 'em up" in a gun show, every VCDL member behind that booth not only carries a gun, but also has ammo (speed loader or magazine), and we all can load our firearms in a few seconds. Same applies for several vendors there. The BG would NOT get far, I assure you.

For this reason, I continue to attend the gun shows, with the hope that someday this inane rule will go away.

Its not about being scared of a BG...its the fact that its a gun show and you must be disarmed to attend. Nothing at a gun show that I cant shop for right here at home and find better deals to boot...and, if I desire I can sit in my underwear on a pile of boolits surrounded by clips and loaded guns all the while doing as I please...

zephyp wrote:Nothing at a gun show that I cant shop for right here at home and find better deals to boot...and, if I desire I can sit in my underwear on a pile of boolits surrounded by clips and loaded guns all the while doing as I please...

Ok, someone shoot me now, I've got this image in my head of DK sitting on top of a mound of ammo while in his tighty-whiteys, and I can't make it go away!

CowboyT wrote:

zephyp wrote: +1 Same reason I shun gun shows...

I know why they do it at the gun shows, so I asked 'em. Apparently they can't get insurance unless all folks who are not LEO's unload their firearms. They've told me they'd rather that not be the case, but without insurance, they can't run the gun show, so they grudgingly go along with it. However, if a BG were to try to play "shoot 'em up" in a gun show, every VCDL member behind that booth not only carries a gun, but also has ammo (speed loader or magazine), and we all can load our firearms in a few seconds. Same applies for several vendors there. The BG would NOT get far, I assure you.

For this reason, I continue to attend the gun shows, with the hope that someday this inane rule will go away.

+1

A lot of the "silly" rules ranges and other gun facilities have had to adopt in recent years have been because of the insurers demands. Those demands are not the result of historical insidences, but rather the insurer just making up the rule. I highly doubt such rules will go away any time soon.

Yarddawg wrote:

zephyp wrote:Nothing at a gun show that I cant shop for right here at home and find better deals to boot...and, if I desire I can sit in my underwear on a pile of boolits surrounded by clips and loaded guns all the while doing as I please...

Ok, someone shoot me now, I've got this image in my head of DK sitting on top of a mound of ammo while in his tighty-whiteys, and I can't make it go away!

Sorry...forgot to mention - scratching myself...

"Sorry...forgot to mention - scratching myself..."

Dude, I just threw up a lil'.

CowboyT wrote:The American Legion Post #180 is firearm-unfriendly. I learned that when I attended a recent Town Hall for the local state Senator and Delegate.

Walked in OC'ing a nice, freshly cleaned and spiffed-up wheelgun. Was also wearing one of my "SF Liberal With A Gun" shirts with a VCDL member sticker on it.

You probably made Yap-Dogs head hurt from the cognitive dissonance.

Not sure if it's corporate or local policy, but Toys R Us in Winchester will not be getting my business anymore.