VA Open Carry

I am new to the site and originally from Chicago, but just learned that VA (new home state) does not require that I register my hand gun and that I can Open Carry (OC) it in certain venues. Can anyone point me to the law that states these rights? I want a copy to carry with me just in case I am asked or challenged by LEO.

Viper

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Yep, OC in a restaurant/bar serving alcohol for on-premise consumption is required if you want to carry (and is perfectly legal). I've never had any problems with it, and it's been a while since I've heard of anyone else having a problem either.

As for IWB holsters, as long as someone interacting with you can tell that you're armed without any sort of special notice, you're OK. People call revealing the butt of a pistol from an IWB holster "the Virginia tuck"; if enough of your pistol is showing so that someone looking at it would know it's a pistol and not a cell phone or something else, you're golden.

And don't worry about being "freaked out"... you're going to come here and fall in love with the freedom. As a Texan myself, I certainly did!

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denwego wrote: Does this mean you can OC in a bar AND have a drink while armed?

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Yes, you certainly can, although most of us would strongly urge you not to do it. God forbid you have to use your firearm, but if you did while drinking any alcohol at all, you can assume a lawsuit by the impactee claiming you were impaired at the time. It would fall on you to show you weren't.

VA law simply says it is illegal to carry a firearm while "under the influence" of alcohol. The judgment call is made by a LEO based onyour behavior, regardless of your BAL.

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Kythas wrote:

denwego wrote: Does this mean you can OC in a bar AND have a drink while armed?

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Yes, you certainly can, although most of us would strongly urge you not to do it.  God forbid you have to use your firearm, but if you did while drinking any alcohol at all, you can assume a lawsuit by the impactee claiming you were impaired at the time.  It would fall on you to show you weren't.

VA law simply says it is illegal to carry a firearm while "under the influence" of alcohol.  The judgment call is made by a LEO based onyour behavior, regardless of your BAL.

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denwego wrote:

Yep, OC in a restaurant/bar serving alcohol for on-premise consumption is required if you want to carry (and is perfectly legal). I've never had any problems with it, and it's been a while since I've heard of anyone else having a problem either.

As for IWB holsters, as long as someone interacting with you can tell that you're armed without any sort of special notice, you're OK. People call revealing the butt of a pistol from an IWB holster "the Virginia tuck"; if enough of your pistol is showing so that someone looking at it would know it's a pistol and not a cell phone or something else, you're golden.

And don't worry about being "freaked out"... you're going to come here and fall in love with the freedom. As a Texan myself, I certainly did!

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Does this mean you can OC in a bar AND have a drink while armed?

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I know, it's trivial, but just for clarification's sake.. Virginia has no bars. They do not exist in this state. We do, of course, have what are generally referred to as bars, in establishments which serve food.

Sorry if this is trivial, but it is a point of fact and tends to cause confusion from time to time.


Now for the topic at hand. You will find that Virginia is the most lenient of the Southern states in termsof gunownership and the "right to keep and bear arms". And alongwith this is the fact thatVirginia is quitegun-friendly.. even with the influx of so many outsiders into our Old Dominion. Somehow,some of them learn a thing or two about Virginia customs and ways.

Please enjoy your stay and your freedom to carry your piece as you deem necessary.

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SouthernBoy wrote

I know, it's trivial, but just for clarification's sake.. Virginia has no bars. They do not exist in this state. We do, of course, have what are generally referred to as bars, in establishments which serve food.

Sorry if this is trivial, but it is a point of fact and tends to cause confusion from time to time.


Now for the topic at hand. You will find that Virginia is the most lenient of the Southern states in termsof gunownership and the "right to keep and bear arms". And alongwith this is the fact thatVirginia is quitegun-friendly.. even with the influx of so many outsiders into our Old Dominion. Somehow,some of them learn a thing or two about Virginia customs and ways.

Please enjoy your stay and your freedom to carry your piece as you deem necessary.

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I'm afraid I may want to change my zip code after I visit. :lol:

Thanks for all the great info.

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May I ask, what part of Virginia are you visiting?

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SouthernBoy wrote:

May I ask, what part of Virginia are you visiting?

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Charlottesville

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Hello. I'm a brand new guy here from North Carolina. Got a question related to OC in Virginia. In a couple of weeks, I am going to a funeral service at Arlington. I'm also gonna stop in Virginia Beach to visit an old friend from my days in the military. I'm guessing from most of the info I have seen here that OC is not frowned on in your state, but what are the regualtions about having a handgun in your vehicle? Does it have to be in the trunk/no, completely visible, or what? Thanks very much.

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§ 18.2-308. Personal protection; carrying concealed weapons; when lawful to carry.
A. If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, (i) any pistol, revolver, or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind by action of an explosion of any combustible material; (ii) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, slingshot, spring stick, metal knucks, or blackjack; (iii) any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain; (iv) any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart; or (v) any weapon of like kind as those enumerated in this subsection, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A second violation of this section or a conviction under this section subsequent to any conviction under any substantially similar ordinance of any county, city, or town shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony, and a third or subsequent such violation shall be punishable as a Class 5 felony. For the purpose of this section, a weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.

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3. Any regularly enrolled member of a target shooting organization who is at, or going to or from, an established shooting range, provided that the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported;

4. Any regularly enrolled member of a weapons collecting organization who is at, or going to or from, a bona fide weapons exhibition, provided that the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported;

5. Any person carrying such weapons between his place of abode and a place of purchase or repair, provided the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported;

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Thanks for the reply, Tomahawk. I guess if it is not "on you" in the vehicle, it's supposed to be locked in the trunk and unloaded, correct? No laying on the dash, seat, etc.?

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