mpg9999
Regular Member
imported post
I’ve been lurking here for a little while and decided to sign up. I’ve got a lot of questions, many VA specific so I figured I’d post in this section. I guess I’ll introduce myself first.
I’m an engineering student at Virginia Tech. I didn’t really grow up with guns. My dad had an old .22 (Winchester 1890 I think) that he never used. My first time shooting a gun was at Air Force basic training (I am in the National Guard). Since that time I have slowly become more and more of a gun person. I got my first gun about 2 years ago, a Ruger 10/22. It’s a perfect first rifle, I only wish I had gotten it as a child. I have wanted a hand gun for awhile, but haven’t had the money. April 16[suP]th[/suP] made me realize that I should probably step up my plans to buy one. I am still a poor college student, but am picking up a Makarov (actually an FEG) PA-63, which is based off of the Walther PP and chambered in 9x18. Ideally I would buy an XD in 9 or .40, but that will have to wait.
I’ve got a lot of questions, so I’ll break them down separately to make it easier to reply to.
1. I have already applied for a CCW permit. I attached a copy of my M16 weapons qualification as proof of training. Should I still sign up for a basic concealed carry class? I’ve learned a lot by reading books and forums like this, but I’m wondering if a class would offer more. Or alternatively, should I skip the basic class and sign up for an advanced class?
2. Hypothetical situation. I am concealed carrying, IWB with an untucked shirt overtop the gun. I am shopping and I reach up to grab something off of a shelf, which causes my shirt to rise up and the gun is now visible for a second. If someone can see my gun, is that considered brandishing or anything else that’s illegal, or is that ok since both concealed carry and open carry are legal?
3. I know you can not carry in a court. I live in Blacksburg and I pay my utility bill in person. I guess its just the local government building, and it includes the court. Is the entire building off limits to carrying, or just the physical court room itself? Are there any town laws I might have to worry about?
4. You can’t carry on federal property. We have a shooting range down here located in a national forest. How does that work? I’m assuming there has to be some kind of exemption.
5. What are the laws regarding firearms in cars, both with and without a CCW permit? If I am driving to the range, does the rifle have to be unloaded? Can the magazine be loaded but not in the gun? In the trunk?
6. Looks like a lot of you guys live in NOVA, which is where I am from. I’m trying to think of everywhere I go and make sure I know the laws for those locations. I sometimes go to the Hoffman center to see a movie. Isn’t the building next to the theater a federal building? Is the parking lot, and if so, is it off limits to carrying? The metro is also across the street, where there is more parking. Can you carry on the metro (as long as you stay in VA of course), and metro parking lots?
7. I know you have to be 18 to buy a rifle, and 21 to buy a handgun, but can 18 year old posses and carry a handgun? Next year I am moving to a new place with a new roommate who is also into guns. He is 19 and I mentioned to him that I don’t think there is any law against him possessing a handgun. Can anyone clarify this?
Thanks in advance for answering any of these questions. I have also noticed a lot of members are members of the VCDL. I want to thank you guys for coming down to VT last semester. I attended the talk and afterwards looked you guys up online. I have now signed up for VA Alerts. Thank you for all the hard work you do here in Virginia.
I’ve been lurking here for a little while and decided to sign up. I’ve got a lot of questions, many VA specific so I figured I’d post in this section. I guess I’ll introduce myself first.
I’m an engineering student at Virginia Tech. I didn’t really grow up with guns. My dad had an old .22 (Winchester 1890 I think) that he never used. My first time shooting a gun was at Air Force basic training (I am in the National Guard). Since that time I have slowly become more and more of a gun person. I got my first gun about 2 years ago, a Ruger 10/22. It’s a perfect first rifle, I only wish I had gotten it as a child. I have wanted a hand gun for awhile, but haven’t had the money. April 16[suP]th[/suP] made me realize that I should probably step up my plans to buy one. I am still a poor college student, but am picking up a Makarov (actually an FEG) PA-63, which is based off of the Walther PP and chambered in 9x18. Ideally I would buy an XD in 9 or .40, but that will have to wait.
I’ve got a lot of questions, so I’ll break them down separately to make it easier to reply to.
1. I have already applied for a CCW permit. I attached a copy of my M16 weapons qualification as proof of training. Should I still sign up for a basic concealed carry class? I’ve learned a lot by reading books and forums like this, but I’m wondering if a class would offer more. Or alternatively, should I skip the basic class and sign up for an advanced class?
2. Hypothetical situation. I am concealed carrying, IWB with an untucked shirt overtop the gun. I am shopping and I reach up to grab something off of a shelf, which causes my shirt to rise up and the gun is now visible for a second. If someone can see my gun, is that considered brandishing or anything else that’s illegal, or is that ok since both concealed carry and open carry are legal?
3. I know you can not carry in a court. I live in Blacksburg and I pay my utility bill in person. I guess its just the local government building, and it includes the court. Is the entire building off limits to carrying, or just the physical court room itself? Are there any town laws I might have to worry about?
4. You can’t carry on federal property. We have a shooting range down here located in a national forest. How does that work? I’m assuming there has to be some kind of exemption.
5. What are the laws regarding firearms in cars, both with and without a CCW permit? If I am driving to the range, does the rifle have to be unloaded? Can the magazine be loaded but not in the gun? In the trunk?
6. Looks like a lot of you guys live in NOVA, which is where I am from. I’m trying to think of everywhere I go and make sure I know the laws for those locations. I sometimes go to the Hoffman center to see a movie. Isn’t the building next to the theater a federal building? Is the parking lot, and if so, is it off limits to carrying? The metro is also across the street, where there is more parking. Can you carry on the metro (as long as you stay in VA of course), and metro parking lots?
7. I know you have to be 18 to buy a rifle, and 21 to buy a handgun, but can 18 year old posses and carry a handgun? Next year I am moving to a new place with a new roommate who is also into guns. He is 19 and I mentioned to him that I don’t think there is any law against him possessing a handgun. Can anyone clarify this?
Thanks in advance for answering any of these questions. I have also noticed a lot of members are members of the VCDL. I want to thank you guys for coming down to VT last semester. I attended the talk and afterwards looked you guys up online. I have now signed up for VA Alerts. Thank you for all the hard work you do here in Virginia.
