Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I learned something today. I was not aware that Virginia had a limit on the number of rounds in a magazine; at least some places in Virginia. The Code of Virginia states that it is unlawful to carry a loaded semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol equipped with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds or a shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than 7 shells “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.”

A couple of observations, first if the firearm is loaded and has a threaded barrel “to accommodate a silencer” or folding stock it is illegal regardless of the size of the magazine, and second if the firearm is unloaded it appears to be legal even if it had a 100 round drum magazine with a “silencer” and a folding stock.

The full text of Code section is below.

§ 18.2-287.4. Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.

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.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to law-enforcement officers, licensed security guards, military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, or any person having a valid concealed handgun permit or to any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or lawful recreational shooting activities at an established shooting range or shooting contest. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The exemptions set forth in § 18.2-308 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the provisions of this section.

Interesting......never saw or heard of this.


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"or any person having a valid concealed handgun permit"

One more reason I have one... Less BS when it comes to carrying anything I want to carry.

Appear to be a carry law, but not a possession law. So everyone in NOVA with 30 rd pmags are safe, so long as they aren't carrying their rifles in public. Which would be funny....

lonestarag wrote:Appear to be a carry law, but not a possession law. So everyone in NOVA with 30 rd pmags are safe, so long as they aren't carrying their rifles in public. Which would be funny....

Yes. Note that it says; "Carrying loaded firearms in public... And that hunting and range activity are excluded.

Oh darn....cause I carry my rifle everywhere I go.....that is what a handgun is for.

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Chasbo00 wrote:

lonestarag wrote:Appear to be a carry law, but not a possession law. So everyone in NOVA with 30 rd pmags are safe, so long as they aren't carrying their rifles in public. Which would be funny....

Yes. Note that it says; "Carrying loaded firearms in public... And that hunting and range activity are excluded.

Right. This is not saying that you can't HAVE or TRANSPORT these items, just that you can't carry them around LOADED. Carrying them unloaded is ok. My command had a police officer come in to provide firearms safety training last year, and he pointed this out. He cited the example of being able to carry a rifle or shotgun in and out of a gun show, as long as it is unloaded.

Concealed carry gets a pass on larger than 20 mags. Just get a concealed carry permit. Who wants to carry a 30 round magazine loaded or not anyway

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lizjimbo wrote:Concealed carry gets a pass on larger than 20 mags. Just get a concealed carry permit. Who wants to carry a 30 round magazine loaded or not anyway

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I'm guessing it would probably print.

Topsider wrote:

lizjimbo wrote:Concealed carry gets a pass on larger than 20 mags. Just get a concealed carry permit. Who wants to carry a 30 round magazine loaded or not anyway

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I'm guessing it would probably print.

Hahahahaaaaa No doubt I could see walking down the street with that thing and people giving you some very odd looks.

Especially if you appendix carry....

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Topsider wrote:

lizjimbo wrote:Concealed carry gets a pass on larger than 20 mags. Just get a concealed carry permit. Who wants to carry a 30 round magazine loaded or not anyway

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I'm guessing it would probably print.

I had one of those in a cross draw holster and I was wearing a trench coat.

I seemed to attract some women who were interested in spending some alone time with me.

RWBlue01 wrote:

Topsider wrote:

lizjimbo wrote:Concealed carry gets a pass on larger than 20 mags. Just get a concealed carry permit. Who wants to carry a 30 round magazine loaded or not anyway

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I'm guessing it would probably print.

I had one of those in a cross draw holster and I was wearing a trench coat.

I seemed to attract some women who were interested in spending some alone time with me.

Wow, that made me truly . I think I will try that.

Wingandaprayer wrote:I learned something today. I was not aware that Virginia had a limit on the number of rounds in a magazine;

crossfireltd wrote:Interesting......never saw or heard of this.

I guess you guys never took my "Intro to Concealed Carry in Virginia" class!

ProShooter wrote:

Wingandaprayer wrote:I learned something today. I was not aware that Virginia had a limit on the number of rounds in a magazine;

crossfireltd wrote:Interesting......never saw or heard of this.

I guess you guys never took my "Intro to Concealed Carry in Virginia" class!

I guess not......I picked up two AR15 30rd. expandable to 45rds. mags up the other day on GB.com, wonder if they will become an issue.


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mamabearCali wrote:Oh darn....cause I carry my rifle everywhere I go.....that is what a handgun is for.

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For now, sure. Someday maybe soon? A rifle may be the "new normal." It sure as hell will be in my family. Wife drives, I ride shotgun, ahem, AR.

Tweaker wrote:

mamabearCali wrote:Oh darn....cause I carry my rifle everywhere I go.....that is what a handgun is for.

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For now, sure. Someday maybe soon? A rifle may be the "new normal." It sure as hell will be in my family. Wife drives, I ride shotgun, ahem, AR.

maybe, but when that day comes I will not be worried about magazine limits!

You know? If you wore a "Brazillian Rig" which is a shoulder holster, with a Glock 18 with three 33 round mags under the opposing arm... you'd have something there...

Tweaker wrote:

mamabearCali wrote:Oh darn....cause I carry my rifle everywhere I go.....that is what a handgun is for.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

For now, sure. Someday maybe soon? A rifle may be the "new normal." It sure as hell will be in my family. Wife drives, I ride shotgun, ahem, AR.

When I was in Kabul, U.S. officers normally just carried the M9, but SOP when traveling outside the wire was that at least one person in the vehicle would carry a long gun. Definitely a prudent measure over there.