Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Posted this in the new members section as well...


Just figured I'd start doing some research on how friendly it is in the Herndon area. So far, the crime rate seems to be not that bad, the schools seem good (I've got 4 kids under 7), and the carry laws seem to be even better than PA for the most part.

I was mainly curious if anybody had "inside info" so to speak from that area. My brother lives in Sterling which seems nice, and his wife works in Herndon and she says it's not bad there either. Problem is, They don't even own a gun much less carry. So, they're not real "connected" to the 2a aspect of the area.

I appreciate any info you can give me. Thanks!

Wouldn't recommend Herndon. You're better off in Sterling or Chantilly.

TheGodfather wrote:Wouldn't recommend Herndon. You're better off in Sterling or Chantilly.

I appreciate the quick response. Is there any way you can clarify? What's wrong with Herndon?

MrFiredUp wrote:What's wrong with Herndon?

Will send you a pm.

MrFiredUp wrote:

TheGodfather wrote:Wouldn't recommend Herndon. You're better off in Sterling or Chantilly.

What's wrong with Herndon?

Its in NoVA?

ProShooter wrote:

MrFiredUp wrote:

TheGodfather wrote:Wouldn't recommend Herndon. You're better off in Sterling or Chantilly.

What's wrong with Herndon?

Its in NoVA?

I can see enjoying this forum as much as I do PAFOA

Now, now, ProShooter... let's be nice to those NoVA people. Some of us have guns, after all.

Herndon proper, as in within the town limits, is not so great anymore. If you're looking at the 'unincorporated area' surrounding Herndon, you can find some nice areas. When we moved here in 2005, we got a rental in Herndon proper. A little skeevy, but we only had two weeks to find something and finalize a lease, so we were pinched for time. In 2007 we moved to Oak Hill, a couple miles south of Herndon proper, and it was very nice. Last summer we moved yet again (I hate renting) - now we're just north of town, near the intersection of 7100 and 7. Nice enough area, but definitely older than the last area.

Of the schools my son (now a 6th grader) has attended, I have to say I like Oak Hill Elementary the best (the second house).

When we were first looking, the Chantilly/South Riding area was also considered, but we ended up going with Herndon because it was closer to work for hubby.

If you come out to house-shop, be sure and let us know - maybe we can meet up for lunch/dinner somewhere, or even put a few rounds downrange.

Riana wrote:Now, now, ProShooter... let's be nice to those NoVA people. Some of us have guns, after all.

Herndon proper, as in within the town limits, is not so great anymore. If you're looking at the 'unincorporated area' surrounding Herndon, you can find some nice areas. When we moved here in 2005, we got a rental in Herndon proper. A little skeevy, but we only had two weeks to find something and finalize a lease, so we were pinched for time. In 2007 we moved to Oak Hill, a couple miles south of Herndon proper, and it was very nice. Last summer we moved yet again (I hate renting) - now we're just north of town, near the intersection of 7100 and 7. Nice enough area, but definitely older than the last area.

Of the schools my son (now a 6th grader) has attended, I have to say I like Oak Hill Elementary the best (the second house).

When we were first looking, the Chantilly/South Riding area was also considered, but we ended up going with Herndon because it was closer to work for hubby.

If you come out to house-shop, be sure and let us know - maybe we can meet up for lunch/dinner somewhere, or even put a few rounds downrange.

WOW! What an offer! That sounds like a good time. I should be able to know for sure what's going on within the next week or so. Then we can spend the next month liquidating my assets and dissolving my small business while looking for a place. I'm so ready to give up business ownership for a regular paycheck.

So, what you're saying is Herndon isn't necessarily a bad area. Just not in the "center of town" so to speak? I've seen some decent places on the internet, I guess I need to just come down and take a look for myself. Just remember, I'll need to "unload and separate" because I'll be coming through the PRMD. I can't believe I grew up there.

Indeed, if you can avoid NOVA then by all means do it...by the way, NOVA no longer only means the immediate DC area...progressives control a wide area even as far west as Perceyville...

zephyp wrote:Indeed, if you can avoid NOVA then by all means do it...by the way, NOVA no longer only means the immediate DC area...progressives control a wide area even as far west as Perceyville...

Instead of abandoning an area because most of the people are sheeple and can't think for themselves might not be the best idea. I, instead, suggest that lots of law abiding gun owners move in to the area and try to educate. I hope things will get better for MD too. Only they are so far gone that it's going to take a miracle to get them back. At least the laws in NOVA allow us the freedom to be more visible which makes it a lot easier to educate. Maybe we can save the area before the anti's have too strong of a grasp on the area that they affect the rest of the state.

Then again, maybe I'm just a naive dreamer.

I hear ya but there are simply too many leftists up here...all of us "normal" folk want to leave and slam the door closed behind us. Let DC and/or MD annex NOVA...now, if you can find oh 2 or 300,000 like minded folk we might be able make a difference...

zephyp wrote:I hear ya but there are simply too many leftists up here...all of us "normal" folk want to leave and slam the door closed behind us. Let DC and/or MD annex NOVA...now, if you can find oh 2 or 300,000 like minded folk we might be able make a difference...

That's how I feel about Northern MD/Southern PA. As far as the peoples beliefs and mindset, you should chop off the top half of MD and the lower half of PA. Make that it's own state and let the morons destroy themselves without us.

I'll start working on those 2-300,000 people asap:)

When I moved to the area in 2006 I was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of illegal aliens in the area. To say it was a culture shock would be an understatement. I don't notice it as much anymore, but you really have to be careful of where you move into if you are not familiar with the area. We rented an apartment in Manassas when we first arrived not knowing that it would quickly fill up with illegal aliens. I had 10 illegals from Guatemala living above me, they lived there in shifts which meant there was noise 24 hours a day. Their children slept in the closets. What was a renovated and fairly decent place to live in the beginning quickly turned into a third world cesspool with two tenants murdered while I was there, gang activity and trash everywhere. After the lease was up we got out as fast as possible.
In NOVA you can have an area that is decent right next to a bad area.

@William - yep. We live in a fairly decent neighborhood in Springfield, but its surrounded by hordes of mexicans, etc. If I take a day off during the week and run an errand I see multitudes of men riding bikes, walking, or just hanging around. That convinces me most of them are probably illegals.

The key to living in NOVA, if you can humanly manage it, is move CLOSE to your job and save on gas, car wear-and-tear, and SANITY. Second worst traffic in US and you'd better believe it! I've lived here since my Dad finished up his Navy career in the late 70s and believe me, it was a semi-sleepy, non over-populated area with good roads and outside of certain places in Alexandria and Arlinigton, pretty easy to get around. In Fairfax County, is 5 minutes or so in the car you'd be in farm land or forests, and now it takes more like 30 minutes to get semi-rural. In 2011 it is over-crowded (LOTS of illegals), hard to get around, and built-up like northern Jersey. One good thing, is that there are just loads of nice areas to live, with great schools (my wife is a Fairfax Co. elementary school teacher), so it is not hard to find a nice area, even in a semi-run down area. Herndon is a bit skeevy to be sure, but even there, with some research and help, it would not be too hard to find a nice place to live, presuming you have some money. It ain't cheap!

Good luck...

the real key is how much you can afford and how close you'll be to your job.
The traffic in NOVA is notoriously terrible and I'm a transplant from south Florida!

I live in an ethnic (Slavadorean, Vietnamese) neighborhood outside of Fall Church and my wife and i pay $2000/mo for a 3/1.
Housing out in the Chantilly/Herdon area is a little cheaper, but we work in DC.
The extra 2 hours a day in traffic would be too much to deal with.

For what's it worth, when I first moved here back in January I lived in Herndon for about a month and couldn't stand it (mostly just the sheer number of people). I ended up moving out to Winchester and am MUCH happier. Having said that, I work from home and don't have to drive to an office, so it make it easier.

Well it's official. I'm moving to NOVA. I'm thinking the Sterling area. I'll be living with my brother through the week for the first month at my new job. I start June 1st. We'll be trying to find a place and move in July 1st if possible. If not, we may move it back to Aug 1st.

So, I'm gonna need to start making some new friends in the area. Anybody interested?:)