Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

now i know states are different, but i was wondering if i trade guns with someone, do i have to register this gun to my name? i saw something that worried me on tv is the reason i ask. a cop pulls over a car, they have a gun in the back, it wasnt registered to either of them. they both went to jail for stolen property.

also if i have a gun in my car, not in a holster but like beside me in the center console area, next to the parking brake, and loaded, if i were to get pulled over, could the cop cite me for anything about that?

Probably a state which required registration? You can be arrested and be sent to jail for anything, even made up causes.

In Virginia, you're not required to register a firearm. In the case of making a trade with someone, just make sure it isn't stolen.

For your second question, the law says you can keep your loaded gun in a closed container. That would include your center console. If you have it outside of a closed container, but still concealed, you will only be legal if you have a concealed handgun permit (CHP). So if your parking brake is in between the seats, or even on the floor, and you have a gun stuck down there (not in a closed container), you are OK only with a CHP.


Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.

Copied and pasted straight from the Commonwealth firearms laws.
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� 18.2-308. Personal protection; carrying concealed weapons; when lawful to carry.

A. If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, (i) any pistol, revolver, or other weapon....., he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor...... For the purpose of this section, a weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.

Except as provided in subsection J1, this section shall not apply to:

10. Any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private motor vehicle or vessel and such handgun is secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.

Again all states are not like Va. when it has to do with weapons in a vehicle. I saw several people go to jail in Atlantic City for weapons violations by carrying weapons in their vehicles and not knowing that it was illegal in New Jeresy and that their Concealed Carry permit was worthless in the State of New Jersey.
Bill

Snazuolu wrote:now i know states are different, but i was wondering if i trade guns with someone, do i have to register this gun to my name? i saw something that worried me on tv is the reason i ask. a cop pulls over a car, they have a gun in the back, it wasnt registered to either of them. they both went to jail for stolen property.

also if i have a gun in my car, not in a holster but like beside me in the center console area, next to the parking brake, and loaded, if i were to get pulled over, could the cop cite me for anything about that?

I suggest the use of a private bill of sale, like that on my website. The main purpose of it is to establish a date beyond which your civil and criminal liability is cut off, both for the seller and the buyer. Read the instructions on page two for more information - scroll down the page to just under the picture of the mail box and right-click on the link to download/"save as" the pdf file.