Virginia Laws

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Parallax

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Moving from Florida to North Virginia (Arlington), tell me about the victim disarmament laws there. Can you do private (non FFL) transfers? What are the legalities around open carrying? How much of a pain is it to get a CWL there?

Florida is relatively lax so I'm used to being left alone by government for the most part. Hopefully this won't change too much. It looks like a lot of people open carry in NOVA, looking forward to taking advantage of that opportunity.
 
Moving from Florida to North Virginia (Arlington), tell me about the victim disarmament laws there. Can you do private (non FFL) transfers? What are the legalities around open carrying? How much of a pain is it to get a CWL there?
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Can you do private (non FFL) transfers? Yes. A goood site is http://www.vaguntrader.com/

What are the legalities around open carrying? You are good to go pretty much anywhere except the usual places- schools, court buildings and such. A good site for Va Open Carry http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?130-Virginia

How much of a pain is it to get a CWL there? Go to the courthouse, fill out the form and pay your money. Show competency. This can be Hunter Education class, NRA Basic Pistol etc.. Wait up to 45 days and get permit. CHP ( Concealed Handgun Permit) Some localities may require fingerprints. Mine did but it was easy to get them done by the police.

Check out VCDL (Virginia Citizens Defense League http://www.vcdl.org/ for answers to all of your questions.

I think you will find Virginia as good or better on 2nd Amendment issues than Florida. You can conceal carry in restuarants that serve alcohol, on state forest land, in state parks, in WMA's, while hunting and in churches. No duty to inform Law Enforcement but they know after running your license. Has never been and issue after being stopped before. In fact I think it helped me in not getting a ticket but I will never know.

Enjoy and be safe!:)
 
I agree with what was said but I would add that if you're moving to Northern Virginia, you should locate in Fairfax County rather than Arlington or Alexandria. Those closer-in suburbs are more tainted by the antigun feelings spilling over from the District. For example, the CLEOs in Arlington or Alexandria won't sign NFA paperwork, while the sheriff in Fairfax County will.
 
Moving from Florida to North Virginia (Arlington).
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Hey, you're practically gonna be my neighbor!

Tell me about the victim disarmament laws there.
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Well, there is no Castle Doctrine, if that's what you're asking about.

Can you do private (non FFL) transfers?
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Yes, you can.

What are the legalities around open carrying?
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OC is perfectly legal here, so long as you're not carrying into an area where is it is disallowed, such as schools, courthouses, and such. You need no license to open carry anything. I've done open carry a lot of times and I've only been waylaid by the Police very rarely. I however, once nearly gave an Australian chick a heart attack. In general, if you don't carry anything big, scary, and black, you can get away with it. I've never carried a pistol due to not yet being old enough for a handgun, so it's always been a rifle.

How much of a pain is it to get a CWL there?
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It's a shall issue state, but you have to be at least 21 to get it.

P.S.: Be sure to come around for The Nation's Gun Show, the largest of its kind in the country. It happens normally once every 2-3 months. In fact, I'm going home from college this weekend so I can attend. I'm in circumstances that make it severely impractical for me to own firearms, so I'm just going to be buying clothing, gear, books, and that sort of stuff.
 
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Mortablunt - while we do not have castle doctrine, we do have 'the kings common law' or some nonsense like that. Essentially the same thing. Thats why Castle doctrine was defeated, people thought it would interfere with common law.

Also, here in Nova (esp. Arlington, no so much out Loudoun) I'd recommend against open carrying, for reasons others have stated. We're called the suburbs of DC for a reason...
 
I suspected you would get some pretty funny looks open carrying in Arlington and might get temporarily waylaid by the police if enough people unfamiliar with VA laws call it in (that said as others have noted it is perfectly legal). I had not problem getting my CCW in Fairfax County. Tyeo098 is also right about the common law...frankly I wish we had Castle Doctrine so there was no room for any sort of interpretation, but in general, it doesn't seem to have been a problem for anyone. Welcome to NOVA and +1 on the Nation's Gun Show...I'm tempted to make it out myself this weekend.
 
I suspected you would get some pretty funny looks open carrying in Arlington and might get temporarily waylaid by the police if enough people unfamiliar with VA laws call it in
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I can easily imagine scenarios in which you could get far more than waylaid by the police. You could certainly get a trip to jail, regardless of the fact that open carry is perfect legal. Get the wrong cop, and you could even get shot.
 
I live in Virginia, and I'm happy I do - I was born and raised in So Cal, and can't ever imagine myself moving back there.

1. Open Carry is legal - schools, courthouses, churches & private property (must be plainly marked that carry is prohibited).

2. Concealed carry is available by permit. You must have proof of competency (prior military, with a valid DD-214, card carrying LEO, NRA Basic Pistol 1 certificate).

I carry both, depending on the weather. I've yet to be detained, or even looked at cross-eyed by police officers. There have been several high profile cases in the last 10 years, where police officers were reminded of citizens rights-to-carry laws in this state. To their credit, their agencies have done pretty well educating their officers on this; not so with the general public, who tend to see a firearm and immediately call the police.

Though I'm not a fan of Arlington County, it's a very convenient locale, with both urban & suburban neighborhoods.

Virginia Law regarding shooting/ self defense is based on case law.
It is a shall issue state - be 21 years old, meet the certification requirements, and within 45 days, you'll have your permit.

Good Luck, and welcome to the 'Old Dominion'.
 
That definitely fits my experience with open carry. Most folks don't tend to care or freak out that much, if they even notice. I don't know where you guys gets your NoVA OC horror stories, but I haven't found much issue with it, at least during the times within the past year when I've carried openly.
 
Well, there is no Castle Doctrine, if that's what you're asking about.
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The only thing we need is a prohibition on civil suites in an otherwise allowed (justifiable or excusable) self defense shooting.

ALL Virginia lethal force lAw is case (common) law.
We have a very good set.

There is not duty to retreat anywhere you are otherwise leagallky alloed to be if you took NO action that invited the attack.

No words, no arguing.

No physical contact (mutual combat) etc.

'The Virginia Gun Owner's Guide' has an excellent run down on the applicable case law.

You should get a copy and read it.

Virginia uses 'excusable' and 'justifiable' homicide in classifying allowed lethal force use.

Not even the police have any statute law that allows them to use lethal force.
They fall under the same case law.
 
NOVA is a great place, I grew up in Fairfax county. I open carried occasionally with no issues. Concealed carry permit is easy to obtain as others have mentioned. You will like the area, there aren't any other places like it... and I've been just about everywhere in the states.
 
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