Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I am new to this forum and was looking around and I did not find a answer to this question and so I would like some input form others on this topic.

Where Unlawful to Carry in Virginia

§18.2-283: To a place of worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held at such place, without good and sufficient reason.

I was wondering how to interpret "with out good and sufficient reason" means legally? Because what is good and sufficient reason to me, is not to someone else, and especially if that person is anti-gun in any way, shape or form. Do I have to have permission of someone that is the leader of that place of worship before I can CC? Does the permission need to be in writing? Or is it MY decision as to when I can CC at a place of worship? This really needs to be cleared up and not so confusing for everyone. I am hoping that there are some people on this forum that have some legal contacts and can ask them how to interpret this law.

I have the verbal permission of the Pastor of where I go to Church to CC. He wants those that have their CHP to CC to potentially head off anyone in a shooting in and around the building. But what happens if someone else sees my gun and calls the LEO, what is going to be the LEO interpretation of the law?

Hope that together we can clear up what "with out good and sufficient reason" really means in Virginia.

Personal protection is "good and sufficient reason" as far as most of us are concerned, I'm sure.

However, if you conceal well enough it shouldn't be an issue... unless you print when you go to receive Eucharist.

If someone calls and a LEO actually arrives, perhaps it would do you well to include the pastor in the conversation and to inform the LEO that he considers your faith in God and defense of his flock to be "good and sufficient reason". If the cop still wanted to argue the point (doubtful to begin with) you could take it up with his division supervisor.

all the pastor would need to do is appoint you and others as security.


ok , appoint might not be the word. assign. Just like some would be assigned to help with parking etc... it would be between you and the pastor, and LE if they were called. Best to have your story straight before they show up.

I am not so concerned about where I currently go to Worship. What about going somewhere else? What about other events that are not related to the Worship time at a place of worship that I do not normally attend? There just seems to be a lot of "loop holes" and room for interpretation by everyone here that may have not been well thought out when this law was made. I am really looking for a legal interpretation, since that would more than likely be the one that would be used in a court of law.

Hilemark wrote: I am really looking for a legal interpretation, since that would more than likely be the one that would be used in a court of law.

then ask a lawyer, not some forum members.