Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

So, something strange posted on the door at my Doctor's office has me scratching my head. On the door of the main entrance, I sign says "Now Weapons Allowed", with a big "no guns" symbol. Then it says "Reference VA Code § 18.2-308."

Well, that particular piece of code doesn't support the "no weapons" sign in any way, shape or form. In fact, that section talks about it being illegal to conceal a weapon, and what the exemptions are for what weapons and where you are.

What do you guys think is going on? You think someone goofed or do you think the office manage who approved (likely mandated) the sign is intentionally lying, trying to scare people with force of law?

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"trying to scare people with force of law..."

Seen it SOOO many times! And when you CALL them on it, the stumbling, and ramblings are HILARIOUS!

"So you're saying I CAN carry here, because that statute exempts me from NON-CARRYING! YAY!"

LoL. That's what I see it as too! My Doc knows I carry when I come and he has never once complained. I'm not worried about me per se, but its bad business and down right underhanded if they are in "scare the people" mode.

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Just put under it the actual wording of the law in question!

I would bet whoever made the sign did not understand VA Code § 18.2-308. I suspect they felt it would support their "No Guns" agenda and look legal and authentic. Who's going to question a document with a Code § in the definition?

MarcSpaz wrote:What do you guys think is going on?

Sounds like its time to fire your doctor, and let him know why you are going elsewhere.

Nah... He works for a company. Its not his policy, it the new company that took the practice over. We've been friends for more than a decade and he's been my doctor for 17 years. It would be a huge mistake for me to go somewhere else for healthcare.

Besides, he carries. He knows I carry. The stff doesn't care. Its just the A-holes who are in the management office.

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Maybe they focused on this part:

§ 18.2-308.01. Carrying a concealed handgun with a permit.

C. The granting of a concealed handgun permit pursuant to this article shall not thereby authorize the possession of any handgun or other weapon on property or in places where such possession is otherwise prohibited by law or is prohibited by the owner of private property.

I would by that if that was the code quoted on the door, but they didn't list any sub-parts.

I'll bet it's very simple. Some idiot didn't proof-read the posted sign. No one proof-reads anymore, nor do they pay attention to signs. I'd tear it off the door, carry it in and hand it to the receptionist and ask what it means.

Let me study on this for a spell. Truth is, I have already, and this has been rattling around in my head since the first day I saw the post:
………………………………………………………………………………..
...sign says "Now Weapons Allowed", with a big "no guns" symbol. Then it says "Reference VA Code § 18.2-308."
....................................................................................
The plain English of the sign; "Now Weapons Allowed", means "Weapons Allowed Now". No accounting for some folks' syntax.
Now, VA Code § 18.2-308 provides, in relevant part:
…………………………………………………………………………………..
"A. If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, (i) any pistol, revolver, or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind by action of an explosion of any combustible material;........................ It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of clause (i) regarding a handgun, that a person had been issued, at the time of the offense, a valid concealed handgun permit."
.......................................................................................

Which language makes it legal to carry concealed if you have a valid concealed handgun permit, right?

So, the sign as posted would seem to convey the information that you can carry concealed on the premises if you have a permit.
We’ve also been told the Doc carries and doesn’t care if MarcSpaz carries, and that he’s an employee of a practice and that either the practice or its landlord imposed the no-guns policy.

If I were a tenant or employee of a tenant in a facility where there was a no-guns policy and my employment or other circumstances prevented me from moving somewhere else, I hope I'd be clever enough to construct this ingenious bit of subterfuge which seems to me to give cover to anyone who carries concealed with a CHP (plain meaning of “Now Guns Allowed”) and still does not clearly violate the landlord's no-gun policy and perhaps put the tenant in breach of his lease. The ambiguity is the beauty of it. Of course, if he ever explains it thusly and word gets out, it doesn’t work anymore. So he or his staff have to take credit for misspelling “NO”; but the sad truth is that way too many people won’t even pick up on that in these semi-literate times we live in. If that’s what’s going on, the Doc would make a good lawyer; and my hat’s off to him. Sounds like the kind of Doc I’d be willing to have looking after me.

dorminWS wrote:Let me study on this for a spell. Truth is, I have already, and this has been rattling around in my head since the first day I saw the post:
………………………………………………………………………………..
...sign says "Now Weapons Allowed", with a big "no guns" symbol. Then it says "Reference VA Code § 18.2-308."
....................................................................................
The plain English of the sign; "Now Weapons Allowed", means "Weapons Allowed Now". No accounting for some folks' syntax.
Now, VA Code § 18.2-308 provides, in relevant part:
…………………………………………………………………………………..
"A. If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, (i) any pistol, revolver, or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind by action of an explosion of any combustible material;........................ It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of clause (i) regarding a handgun, that a person had been issued, at the time of the offense, a valid concealed handgun permit."
.......................................................................................

Which language makes it legal to carry concealed if you have a valid concealed handgun permit, right?

So, the sign as posted would seem to convey the information that you can carry concealed on the premises if you have a permit.
We’ve also been told the Doc carries and doesn’t care if MarcSpaz carries, and that he’s an employee of a practice and that either the practice or its landlord imposed the no-guns policy.

If I were a tenant or employee of a tenant in a facility where there was a no-guns policy and my employment or other circumstances prevented me from moving somewhere else, I hope I'd be clever enough to construct this ingenious bit of subterfuge which seems to me to give cover to anyone who carries concealed with a CHP (plain meaning of “Now Guns Allowed”) and still does not clearly violate the landlord's no-gun policy and perhaps put the tenant in breach of his lease. The ambiguity is the beauty of it. Of course, if he ever explains it thusly and word gets out, it doesn’t work anymore. So he or his staff have to take credit for misspelling “NO”; but the sad truth is that way too many people won’t even pick up on that in these semi-literate times we live in. If that’s what’s going on, the Doc would make a good lawyer; and my hat’s off to him. Sounds like the kind of Doc I’d be willing to have looking after me.

Or the board member misspelled "No". Later in his post it is "no". I'd prefer to think you are right, but...

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Even if it is a case of "NO" misspelled, by incorporating the reference to VA Code § 18.2-308, I would argue that the prohibition is subject to the exception in that code section for one carrying concealed with a valid CHP.

But I would be quite comfortable arguing to about any judge that the public can only be held to what a sign says, not what the sign maker intended but failed to say.

Heck, I like that idea so much I'm tempted to post such a sign somewhere myself. It's just a cool way to twist the nose of the prohibitionists.

It was supposed to be no, not now. Can't edit mobile posts.

I figured y'all would get the drift anyway.

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