Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I'm moving to Alexandria in a few weeks. I've been reading through all the concealed carry rules and it looks like I'll be leaving my castle doctrine and liability lawsuit protection behind. I saw there were some failed attempts at passing the castle doctrine earlier this year.

Has anyone seen any movement on new castle doctrine legislation or legislation prohibiting liability lawsuits for justified shootings?

It will have to wait until the next legislature meets, and I'm not sure about if they introduce bills of that type every year or not. In any case, get on the VCDL email list and that will keep you informed on all the latest news.

http://www.vcdl.org/

There is no Castle Law per se but if you are an innocent party you do not have to retreat first before using lethal force in a situation where you believe your or another's life is in danger. Automatic liability protection is not there yet. Of course you do not have to worry about printing in VA.

Civil suits in clean shoots tend not to get very far in this state. We're not Maryland or the northeast.

Civil suits didn't get very far down here either, seeing how this is the wild west. I think they threw the law on the books just to alleviate the nuisance factor and save people money on lawyer fees.

Does the VA legislature meet every year? Texas only meets every other year.

So I'm wondering if I should just renew my Taxas CHL since they have reciprocity with Virginia (and since I'll be moving back this way in 3 years).

meangene wrote:So I'm wondering if I should just renew my Taxas CHL since they have reciprocity with Virginia (and since I'll be moving back this way in 3 years).

I would. And welcome, from another Tx transplant.

Thank You. I just registered for a renewal class this Saturday.

meangene wrote:So I'm wondering if I should just renew my Taxas CHL since they have reciprocity with Virginia (and since I'll be moving back this way in 3 years).

Welcome!
I might be a little late for this...
If you decide to go with the VA chp license (which is for 5 years), then note that it is at most $50 (depends on the county). My county was $30. A VA driver license is $32 for 8 years. I am not sure how that cost compares to the TX renewal fee.

meangene wrote:Does the VA legislature meet every year? Texas only meets every other year.

Once yearly, a long session and a short session alternating.

So I'm wondering if I should just renew my Taxas CHL since they have reciprocity with Virginia (and since I'll be moving back this way in 3 years).

If you're changing your residence (driver's license, etc.) it would be beneficial. I'm not sure an out of state permit would allow you to bypass the one handgun per month restriction.

Diomed wrote:

So I'm wondering if I should just renew my Taxas CHL since they have reciprocity with Virginia (and since I'll be moving back this way in 3 years).

If you're changing your residence (driver's license, etc.) it would be beneficial. I'm not sure an out of state permit would allow you to bypass the one handgun per month restriction.

I don't know the answer, but I would assume the Texas resident permit becomes invalid when you are no longer a resident. Texas allows for non-resident permits though; are they any different from a residents? Color, layout, markings?

I don't think an out of state CHP can bypass the one handgun a month. First, non-residents can't buy handguns here without shipping them to an FFL in their state. Second, the VA police check your CHP status/info if you are using it to buy more than one a month. I don't think the VA state police keep track of other states permits or are set up to check the other states database.

I'm active duty military so I don't think residency is an issue. If I understand the rules correctly, military status gives you residency status in Virginia for CHP purposes. I'll be keeping my Texas residency (and drivers license) since this is my last assignment before military retirement...then I'm headed back down south.