Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Hi all
I am new to the group and have a question that maybe you all can answer.
I am going to visit colonial williamsburg this coming week and would like to know if concealed carry is legal there. I call the place and was told they don't know??? that I should call the Virginia state police and ask them. I plan on doing that tomorrow, I figure I may get somebody that knows on a weekday, and not a weekend!
But I was shocked to be told by Williamsburg people they don't know! I would figure they either allow it or they don't, and the people on the phone should know the answer.

Anybody know for sure?
Thanks
Rusty in NC

I'm not sure the the VSP will be able to answer your question either. As near as I could tell Colonial Williamsburg is private property (I tried checking their web site) and therefore concealed carry is legal unless they post otherwise. It's not listed as a restricted place in VA law. If any of the restaraunts serve alcohol be aware that CC is illegal (for most) in them. I'm pretty sure VA and NC have a reciprical agreement for concealed carry permits so if you have a NC permit you should be ok.

Am I correct in assuming that open carry is legal if alcohol is served, as long as I don't drink?

tiger13 wrote:Am I correct in assuming that open carry is legal if alcohol is served, as long as I don't drink?

Yes, you can open carry in an alcohol serving establishment. I believe you can even have a drink as long as you don't hold a Concealed permit. I wouldn't suggest getting a snootful (I really wouldn't suggest having a drink at all). Remember that open carrying puts you out there. Being responsible in the public's eye is important when OC'ing. Also, if you're ever in a position where you need to use deadly force and you've had a drink, then that lends to a much more difficult legal situation than if you were stone sober.

That's my opinion. Anyone else care to weigh in?

Yup, guns n alcohol definitely do not mix.

I saw something in the Virginia law about carrying and having a BAC, I don't recall the particulars though. I'm not going to spend the time digging for that section of the law because I don't need the state to tell me guns and alcohol don't mix. My thoughts are that if you are in possession of a firearm then you need to stay away from alcohol or if you have been drinking you need to stay away from firearms. No good can come from mixing the 2, even if it's "just one drink."

Check out handgunlaw.us, they have a PDF file of each states laws regarding carry. You can check opencarry.org also.

§18.2-308.J1. Any person permitted to carry a concealed handgun, who is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while carrying such handgun in a public place, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Just don't drink if you're carrying. That solves the problem.

in Summary:

- Open Carry is OK in an establishment that serves alcohol (It's not illegal by Code, so is therefore legal)

- Concealed Carry is NOT OK in an establishment that serves alcohol
§18.2-308.J3. No person shall carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant or club as defined in § 4.1-100 for which a license to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption has been granted by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board under Title 4.1 of the Code of Virginia

Consumption of alcohol is legal, but definitely NOT RECOMMENDED. Please don't do it.

Rick, you found the section of law I was thinking of concerning carrying and alcohol. I couldn't remember exactly how it applied but like has been said several times, don't mix the guns and the alcohol and the problem is solved.

Thanks guys for the answers, I didn't intend to be drinking while carrying, but in case I went into a restaurant that served it I wanted to be sure I was legal, in NC we can not carry at all in a place that serves alcohol, open or concealed.
Thanks again
Rusty

tiger13 wrote:Thanks guys for the answers, I didn't intend to be drinking while carrying, but in case I went into a restaurant that served it I wanted to be sure I was legal, in NC we can not carry at all in a place that serves alcohol, open or concealed.
Thanks again
Rusty

Just to be clear - I wasn't implying that you might drink while carrying...just making sure that anyone else who reads this thread gets the right idea

I'm glad we could help!

So the OP never came back and confirmed that CW does not prohibit concealed carry on his 2009 visit.
Since they are "private property, it is up to them. Years ago CW did not prohibit, but things sometimes change. So...
Considering that his thread is over 2 years old, has anyone been there lately who can confirm that CHP carry is not prohibited at Colonial Williamsburg?

We visit Colonial Williamsburg a few times a year. The last time was near the beginning of this summer. I've never seen a sign posted anywhere. I haven't open carried there, but I do carry concealed when we're there. Never a problem.

newdovo wrote:We visit Colonial Williamsburg a few times a year. The last time was near the beginning of this summer. I've never seen a sign posted anywhere. I haven't open carried there, but I do carry concealed when we're there. Never a problem.

Newdovo, thanks for the update.
I always conceal carry anyway. I'll be going there in a few week & wanted to make sure. I HATE leaving my firearm in the car since I feel that's when it's most vulnerable to theft.

cabrera wrote:I HATE leaving my firearm in the car since I feel that's when it's most vulnerable to theft.

You're right on that.

A couple years ago, before the law changed about carrying in a restaurant that served alcohol, I did the Virginia tuck when going in to the taverns. No issues. I CC there now and sip soda or tea.

Parry

Actually on XDTalk someone mentioned OPEN CARRYING a pistol in Colonial Williamsburg, and one of the "actors" who was walking around "Congratulated him on exercising his Second Amendment rights..."

Dunno if that still holds true, but keep it in this frame of mind, "Colonial Williamsburg is a 'mall'."

Think about it, it has restaurants, shops that sell goods, parking, a security force, and people coming, and going... treat it like that... "CC" is best, "OC" if no other option, and THANK YOU VCDL FOR PASSING CC IN AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT SERVES ALCOHOL!

DO be careful of traipsing on the College of William And Mary, that would cause a scene I'm sure with those "bastions of anti-freedom" resting JUUUUUSSTTT up the road from where freedom was born (Ironic, doncha' think?)

I do know that just being responsible, and attempting to find a comfortable holster, and covering shirt/jacket, would ease your worried mind.

If they ask you to leave? Leave. No scene, no fuss, just leave...and then contact the VCDL, and let them do their "magic".

Reverenddel wrote:
DO be careful of traipsing on the College of William And Mary, that would cause a scene I'm sure with those "bastions of anti-freedom" resting JUUUUUSSTTT up the road from where freedom was born (Ironic, doncha' think?)

Do they have a regulation forbidding carry?

A policy won't cut it. There's a big stink right now about ODU wanting to pass a regulation, which would ban carry by force of law. I'm hoping a lot more people, especially alumni, boosters, prospective students, etc. contact them and tell them to step back.

Ok I just returned from Colonial WB. I searched EVERYWHERE, absolutley no gun buster signs anywhere. I looked believe me. No metal detectors either.
I did conceal carry as I always do. No issues whatsoever.
I did not see anyone open carry yet I did not see anything forbiding it.

I CC'd there at CW a few weeks ago....no issues.

I checked this forum earlier after finding it in a Google search. I live in GloCo, but had to go to CW to visit a camera shop. I checked this forum (and a few others) to see if OC would be permitted in CW. I decided to carry and see what happened.

After leaving the camera shop, I also went to the toy store (I had my 18month old daughter with me) and book store, plus several other small shops. The only caution I would pass along, which is mentioned in an earlier post, is to be sure to stay off the W&M campus.

I am happy to report that I did not even get a dirty look. In fact, the only reaction I had at all was from an older lady who was recently widowed and was curious as to how to go about getting a permit. I explained the laws regarding OC and CC, and recommended a gun shop/range in Newport News.

Ended up at CW again this week (Saturday, 12-10-2011). Visited even more shops and covered more territory, along with bigger crowds. Once again, I carried my pistol in the open, as I do not yet have a CCP. And, once again, not so much as a dirty look.

However, after leaving CW and visiting another shopping center, I did get a negative reaction from some girls in a popular department store, yet nothing was said. They saw my sidearm, stopped in their tracks and then headed off in a different direction. All I could do was laugh.

CW, in my opinion, is an open carry friendly area. Just be sure to stay off of W&M campus property.