From VCDL:
http://blog.vcdl.org/
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3. Reciprocity update. This makes my rear end tired. We have GOT to fix this. :-(
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**** SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS - BE SURE TO READ THIS ENTIRE SECTION! ****
Tom Lambert, with the Virginia State Police, just sent me an update on Virginia's reciprocity status with several other states. I want to thank Tom for his professionalism and his diligent work to setup reciprocity with as many states as possible. The rant that follows has nothing to do with Tom - I want to make that perfectly clear.
As I looked at Tom's latest update, one glaring problem jumps out at me: the Virginia State Police's demand that all reciprocal states have a system in place to verify the validity of their permits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is crushing a lot of reciprocal agreements!
The net effect is that YOU are left defenseless in many states as you travel solely because if this unnecessary requirement by YOUR state police. And many guests to this state are similarly and unnecessarily disarmed.
That is unacceptable and we need to do whatever we can to get that 24/7 requirement struck out of Virginia law.
Let me show you just how inane and how serious a problem this is.
***Virginia has JUST stopped recognizing South Carolina concealed handgun permits. ***
Why?
Because apparently South Carolina does not have the 24/7 validation capability. For years now Virginia thought they did and has been recognizing their permits! Virginia just now discovered the problem while reviewing information with South Carolina!
So for years not one single Virginia police officer has needed to verify a South Carolina CHP. If they had, this problem would have surfaced a long time ago.
That confirms what VCDL has been saying all along: WHILE THE STATE POLICE DEMAND 24/7 VALIDATION, VCDL DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY EVER OR **EXTREMELY RARELY** USE IT!!
Here is what the State Police's 24/7 validation demand has caused gun owners across the country:
1. After many, many years, South Carolina has just offered Virginia reciprocity, BUT because we have just stopped recognizing South Carolina over the 24/7 issue, the deal is DEAD! :-(
2. Virginia will not recognize Idaho, even though they have honored our permits for years, because Idaho does not have 24/7 validation.
3. Virginia will not recognize Indiana, even though they have honored our permits for years, because Indiana does not have 24/7 validation.
4. Virginia will not setup reciprocity with Maine because Maine doesn't have 24/7 validation.
5. Virginia will not setup reciprocity with Alabama because Alabama doesn't have 24/7 validation.
6. Virginia will not setup reciprocity with New Hampshire because New Hampshire doesn't have 24/7 validation.
7. In a "what's good for the goose is good for the gander", Nevada has turned Virginia down because our damned 24/7 validation isn't automated!
The State Police and the General Assembly need to understand this is not a game. Lives are at stake and we need to get rid of the road blocks that are fragmenting the 2nd Amendment and our right to defend ourselves and our families.
This whole issue has just been bumped up in VCDL's legislative agenda for next year.
We finally get offered reciprocity by South Carolina and the Virginia State Police force us to fumble the ball. I'm livid!
If you are from South Carolina, you are going to have to use either a Florida, Utah, or a Virginia non-resident permit to carry concealed here, I'm embarrassed to say.