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We Need You to Write The Virginia Governor!

John Pierce

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
1,777
imported post

As you know, the Attorney General opined recently that Virginia State Parks CANNOT ban or control the lawful carry of handguns, including open carry (concealed carry is already OK). The State Parks is currently waiting for direction from the Governor on this issue.

Years ago, Governor Mark Warner was in a similar position with an Attorney General's opinion saying that concealed carry could not be banned by State Parks. Governor Warner did the right thing and ordered State Parks to comply with that Attorney General's opinion and concealed carry in State Parks became legal in short order.

Let's contact the Governor and urge him to have State Parks change their regulations to comply with Virginia law and to allow open and concealed carry.

Here is the link to the Governor's webmail:

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm

Suggested title: Please repeal the unlawful ban on openly carried firearms in State Parks!

Suggested message:

Attorney General McDonnell recently opined that Virginia State Parks do not have the authority to ban lawfully carried handguns.

Currently, concealed handgun permit holders can carry concealed in State Parks, but on hot Virginia summers it does not make sense that a person can't openly carry a handgun. Also, those without a concealed handgun permit should not be disenfranchised.

Please advise Director Joseph Maroon to change State Park rules to remove the current prohibition on openly carried handguns.

Please let me know what you are going to do.
 

John Pierce

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
1,777
imported post

Doug Huffman wrote:
Did y'all in state constituents get an auto-reply with no content or is that special for us that are not electors in Virginia?

I received an auto-reply but it did have content.
 

marine2000

Regular Member
Joined
May 10, 2008
Messages
146
Location
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
imported post

final amended version of its changes to rules on carrying of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. DOI’s move will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners who wish to transport and carry firearms for lawful purposes on most DOI lands, and will make federal law consistent with the state law in which these public lands are located. The National Rifle Association (NRA) led the effort to amend the existing policy regarding the carrying and transportation of firearms on these federal lands.

“Today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of the Interior brings clarity and uniformity for law-abiding gun owners visiting our national parks,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “We are pleased that the Interior Department recognizes the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families while enjoying America's National Parks and wildlife refuges.”

DOI announced the rule change today and will publish the new regulations in the Federal Register. The new regulations allow right-to-carry permit holders to exercise their Second Amendment rights on national park and wildlife refuges in those states that recognize such permits. The move will provide consistency across our nation’s federal lands and put an end to the patchwork of regulations that governed different lands managed by different federal agencies. In the past, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands allowed the carrying of firearms, while lands managed by DOI did not.

The NRA has long held that amendments to those regulations were needed to reflect the changed legal situations with respect to state laws on carrying firearms. Earlier this year, fifty-one U.S. Senators sent a strong bipartisan letter to the DOI supporting the move to make state firearms laws applicable to national park lands and refuges.

“These changes respect the Second Amendment rights of honest citizens as they enjoy our public lands,” concluded Cox. “We applaud the Interior Department’s efforts to amend these out of date regulations.”
 

Mike

Site Co-Founder
Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
8,706
Location
Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
imported post

marine2000 wrote:
final amended version of its changes to rules on carrying of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. DOI’s move will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners who wish to transport and carry firearms for lawful purposes on most DOI lands, and will make federal law consistent with the state law in which these public lands are located. The National Rifle Association (NRA) led the effort to amend the existing policy regarding the carrying and transportation of firearms on these federal lands.
This thread is not about the issue above.
 

2a4all

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
1,846
Location
Newport News, Virginia, USA
imported post

I think that this AG Opinion should include Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Aren't they just another type of State Park?

Excerpt from DGIF WMA Rules
Firearms

It is unlawful to have in possession or
in a vehicle a bow or gun which is not
unloaded and cased or dismantled
except when it is lawful to take bear,
deer, grouse, pheasants, quail, rabbit,
raccoon, squirrel or turkey; and additionally,
migratory game birds on
Department owned lands east of the
Blue Ridge; or by permit issued by the
Department; or by concealed handgun
permit issued by a Circuit Court.

It is unlawful to possess or transport a
loaded gun in or on any vehicle at any
time on a WMA.

Target shooting is permitted on designated
ranges only.
DGIF says that the bold includes concealed handguns, i.e. one must unload a concealed handgun while riding in a vehicle on WMA lands.
 

Wolf_shadow

Activist Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2006
Messages
1,215
Location
Accomac, Virginia, USA
imported post

2a4all wrote:
I think that this AG Opinion should include Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Aren't they just another type of State Park?

Excerpt from DGIF WMA Rules
Firearms

It is unlawful to have in possession or
in a vehicle a bow or gun which is not
unloaded and cased or dismantled
except when it is lawful to take bear,
deer, grouse, pheasants, quail, rabbit,
raccoon, squirrel or turkey; and additionally,
migratory game birds on
Department owned lands east of the
Blue Ridge; or by permit issued by the
Department; or by concealed handgun
permit issued by a Circuit Court
.

It is unlawful to possess or transport a
loaded gun in or on any vehicle at any
time on a WMA.

Target shooting is permitted on designated
ranges only.
DGIF says that the bold includes concealed handguns, i.e. one must unload a concealed handgun while riding in a vehicle on WMA lands.
or by concealed handgun permit issued by a Circuit Court. I'm not a lawyer but their own rules says concealed handgun with permit is legal. But Ag opinion should cover open carry which is legal in Virginia.
 
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