Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

t33j wrote:Laminated mine, and 2 copies. You can't tell them apart.

'course I've yet to use it.

gunderwood wrote:

t33j wrote:Laminated mine, and 2 copies. You can't tell them apart.

'course I've yet to use it.

This raises an interesting question. Is a copy good enough?

For NFA items a copy of the tax stamp is sufficient, but CC is much closer to an ID rather than a tax receipt. A copy of my DL can't be used as a legal ID. It is a technicality, but if a copy was legal for carrying, that could be beneficial if you lost your wallet or something. Keep the original in a fire safe at home (like the NFA tax stamp), but carry a copy.

Proshooter, thoughts?

Jericho01 wrote:First time and renewal were both laminated by the clerk. Good service by Fairfax County on this one.

allingeneral wrote:

gunderwood wrote:

t33j wrote:Laminated mine, and 2 copies. You can't tell them apart.

'course I've yet to use it.

This raises an interesting question. Is a copy good enough?

For NFA items a copy of the tax stamp is sufficient, but CC is much closer to an ID rather than a tax receipt. A copy of my DL can't be used as a legal ID. It is a technicality, but if a copy was legal for carrying, that could be beneficial if you lost your wallet or something. Keep the original in a fire safe at home (like the NFA tax stamp), but carry a copy.

Proshooter, thoughts?

My original has a raised seal stamped into it. Not sure how that would play into the whole "copy" issue. Does yours have a raised seal?

gunderwood wrote:

allingeneral wrote:My original has a raised seal stamped into it. Not sure how that would play into the whole "copy" issue. Does yours have a raised seal?

No, but it is the idea of copying I was curious about. It has another signature on it and a copy may not be considered official? I.e. a copy doesn't cut it for some things.

Va Code 18.2-308(H) wrote:
H. The permit to carry a concealed handgun shall specify only the following information: name, address, date of birth, gender, height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, and signature of the permittee; the signature of the judge issuing the permit, of the clerk of court who has been authorized to sign such permits by the issuing judge, or of the clerk of court who has been authorized to issue such permits pursuant to subsection D; the date of issuance; and the expiration date. The permit to carry a concealed handgun shall be no larger than two inches wide by three and one-fourth inches long and shall be of a uniform style prescribed by the Department of State Police. The person issued the permit shall have such permit on his person at all times during which he is carrying a concealed handgun and shall display the permit and a photo-identification issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth or by the United States Department of Defense or United States State Department (passport) upon demand by a law-enforcement officer.

gunderwood wrote:

t33j wrote:Laminated mine, and 2 copies. You can't tell them apart.

'course I've yet to use it.

This raises an interesting question. Is a copy good enough?


Proshooter, thoughts?

I've seen this question posed on other boards for other state's permits as well as Virginia. I have never seen a clear answer for or against the idea of copying your permit.

The raised seal issue brings some validity to the idea of not copying it. Since it is such a cheap looking piece of paper to begin with, LE will probably be looking for a raised seal. It would also be very easy to fake a copy without the raised seal.

I generally like to take the law at face value and in 18.2-308 H it says:

"The person issued the permit shall have such permit on his person at all times during which he is carrying a concealed handgun and shall display the permit and a photo-identification issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth or by the United States Department of Defense or United States State Department (passport) upon demand by a law-enforcement officer."

It specifically says "the permit". A copy of the permit, IMHO, is not "the permit". I would think that since photocopiers have been around for a long, long time, the legislature would have specifically said that a copy is as good as the original, if that was their intention. Copies do not have the raised seal, or the original ink signatures.

In my opinion, a copy is not good enough and does not rise to the standard indicated by the statute. Obviously, I am not an attorney and my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.

ProShooter wrote:

gunderwood wrote:

t33j wrote:Laminated mine, and 2 copies. You can't tell them apart.

'course I've yet to use it.

This raises an interesting question. Is a copy good enough?


Proshooter, thoughts?

I've seen this question posed on other boards for other state's permits as well as Virginia. I have never seen a clear answer for or against the idea of copying your permit.

The raised seal issue brings some validity to the idea of not copying it. Since it is such a cheap looking piece of paper to begin with, LE will probably be looking for a raised seal. It would also be very easy to fake a copy without the raised seal.

I generally like to take the law at face value and in 18.2-308 H it says:

"The person issued the permit shall have such permit on his person at all times during which he is carrying a concealed handgun and shall display the permit and a photo-identification issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth or by the United States Department of Defense or United States State Department (passport) upon demand by a law-enforcement officer."

It specifically says "the permit". A copy of the permit, IMHO, is not "the permit". I would think that since photocopiers have been around for a long, long time, the legislature would have specifically said that a copy is as good as the original, if that was their intention. Copies do not have the raised seal, or the original ink signatures.

In my opinion, a copy is not good enough and does not rise to the standard indicated by the statute. Obviously, I am not an attorney and my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.