Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Came to VGOF to see the latest official word on OC or CC when I hike in Virginia National Forrest lands in the summer. My conclusion is CC is OK with a card (CHP) and OC is not OK whether you have a card or not. Guess I will have to carry under a shirt. Is my conclusion accurate?

The written guidance:
A. Department-owned lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and national forest lands statewide. It shall be unlawful to have in possession a bow, crossbow, or any firearm that is not unloaded and cased or dismantled on all national forest lands statewide and on department-owned lands and on other lands managed by the department under cooperative agreement located in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains except during the period when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, or waterfowl on these lands.

G. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the possession, transport and use of loaded firearms by employees of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries while engaged in the performance of their authorized and official duties, nor shall it prohibit possession and transport of loaded concealed handguns where the individual possesses a concealed handgun permit as defined in § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia.

What code section are those quoted from?

I don't know that you can rely on VGOF for any "Official" word, but hopefully someone will pipe up with their interpretation of the law.

Personally, I'm still a bit confused...National Parks, State Parks, State Wildlife Management Areas, etc... Where do they all fit in?

Some years back, I had a Virginia Game Warden check my hunting license as I was getting into my car on a road in a Virginia National forest. I had laid my pistol out on the seat to put it into my console. He told me that the only way it was legal for me to have a loaded pistol in my car in a National Forest in Virginia was if I had a Virginia CHP (I did). I don't know for sure if he was right or wrong, but he was right until the judge ruled on it, as I saw it - which would have meant (if I hadn't had the CHP) a citation, maybe arrest, and surely seizure of the pistol.

My previous today came from the Virginia Code 4VAC15-40-60. Hope this helps anyone in their search for the actual laws of Virginia.

The written guidance:
A. Department-owned lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and national forest lands statewide. It shall be unlawful to have in possession a bow, crossbow, or any firearm that is not unloaded and cased or dismantled on all national forest lands statewide and on department-owned lands and on other lands managed by the department under cooperative agreement located in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains except during the period when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, or waterfowl on these lands.

G. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the possession, transport and use of loaded firearms by employees of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries while engaged in the performance of their authorized and official duties, nor shall it prohibit possession and transport of loaded concealed handguns where the individual possesses a concealed handgun permit as defined in § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia.

Read more: http://vagunforum.net/post113452.html?hilit=national forrest#p113452#ixzz1nEyRI4UW