Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Drove to Florida on May 22 and returned on May 27. Crossed NC, SC, GA and entered FL (duh) in the process.

NC concealed carry laws are very similar to VA laws and our permit is valid there- just wasn't sure about their prohibition on concealed carry "in spaces occupied by state or federal employees." Since I am a federal employee would that mean I can't CCW around myself?

SC was funny, as I understood their law the gun had to be in the glove compartment while driving. Again the VA permit is valid though so I could carry when out of the vehicle. I possibly crossed a NWR while traveling through SC. It wasn't well marked if I did, one of the reasons to allow carry on DOI property.

GA has castle doctrine that I understand has been extended to vehicles, which is good because VA permits are not valid in GA. As it turns out though a non-resident PA permit is valid in GA, since the wife is from PA it wouldn't hurt (and is very easy) to get a PA non-resident permit.

FL recognizes VA permits so I carried everywhere I went except when driving to the Okeefenokee Swamp in GA. Had it not been for the swamp being a NWR and as such no guns allowed I would have carried there also. Oh well, I can wait till Feb. 2010 for that.

Overall there were no problems, everything went well and I even found .380 ammo while I was in FL. Concealed carried most of the time since OC isn't possible in FL and I didn't feel like chasing down the OC laws in other states.

Moccasin wrote:Overall there were no problems, everything went well and I even found .380 ammo while I was in FL.

A-ha! I *knew* there had to be some .380 ammo out there somewhere - but I don't see myself driving to FL to buy any...

On a more serious note, glad to hear there were no problems!

What do you do about DC?

There is no way I am going to not have access to my gun and ammo while there.

DC is a big no-no with guns, get caught over there and it's not gonna be a fun thing.

Bobtail1911 wrote:What do you do about DC?

There is no way I am going to not have access to my gun and ammo while there.

Might want to read this story about what happens in DC - this will make your blood boil...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02840.html

Why would this make your blood boil. This is a place other then Va. The young man should have checked on the law's that were in place for the area's that he would be traveling in and abided by them then their would not be a problem. You can't blame the Police Officer's, they were doing what they get paid to do. I do feel sympthay for him and his family to be put through this and as he is a Brother Marine, but I would not travel if I had a CCW permit without checking first.
Bill

That is just frickin' sad...

This is a sad story indeed, glad he was only charged with a misdemeanor, too bad a wounded vet had to go through that.

You always have to know the law when you travel.

There is no way I am going to not have access to my gun and ammo while there.

Mark, I know how you feel, but I would not carry a firearm in DC.

Just hate having to have everything locked up if I drive through DC. And yes the Airports of Dulles, National and BWI are considered DC territory. I would be concerned if I was driving through on my way to somewhere else, not in DC. DC can rot in H--- for all I care.

Bobtail1911 wrote:Just hate having to have everything locked up if I drive through DC. And yes the Airports of Dulles, National and BWI are considered DC territory. I would be concerned if I was driving through on my way to somewhere else, not in DC. DC can rot in H--- for all I care.

Dulles and Reagan are most certainly NOT considered "DC territory". They are located in Virginia.

Last I checked they had DC Zip-codes and were administered by DC Athorities

From their website.

What is the Airports Authority?
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is an independent body created by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. It has been approved by the U.S. Congress to operate and maintain Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. The Authority is a public body, corporate and politic and is independent of all other bodies. It is not an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of Columbia, nor is it a federal agency.

What rules apply here? VA? or Some one else?

Found my answer on the same site:

Both Airports are physically located in Virginia, but have Washington, D.C., mailing addresses. Where are the Airports located legally?
Reagan National: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Virginia. Federal law and Virginia Code both state the airport is "situated within the Commonwealth of Virginia" (see 59 Stat. 552 (1945); 1950 Va. Code Sec 7.1-10 (1983)). There are also court decisions holding the airport is located in Virginia (see Pfister v. Director, Office of Workers Compensation, etc., 675 F.2d 1314, 1315-16 (D.C. Cir. 1982); and Bryan v. District of Columbia Unemployment Compensation Board, 342 A.2d 45 (D.C. Ct. App. 1975)).

The VCDL has an email from the Governor's office where he outlines the airports as being in Virginia.

http://www.vcdl.org/aircarrier.html