ufcfanvt
Regular Member
What constitutes "loaded" when a gun is in the trunk/locked case of my vehicle?
Please Read First: If you want to argue about whether carrying a rifle in your vehicle is a good idea, please proceed directly to the General Discussion forum and start your own thread. I may even join you there. This thread is meant to discuss and clarify VA code and case-law. Unfortunately, the previous thread dealing with this was locked and, IMO, it was locked for good reason. Perhaps we could discuss that in the Forum Rules section.
-------------------------------------
So I've heard people tell me they do this. I'm not certain I will ever do this, but I'd like to know what the law (code and case-law) has to say about it in Virginia.
I have a rifle, for the moment, let's say it's your grand-pa's Elmer-Fudd, bolt-action, detachable box-magazine-fed rifle. This rifle, including its magazine, will accommodate exactly 8 rounds for center-fire rifle ammunition. I want to ride around the great Commonwealth of VA with it in my trunk or some locked case, outside of immediate reach of the driver or passenger.
It should be legal to have a long-gun in your trunk: http://leg1.state.va.us/000/cod/18.2-308.HTM only applies to weapons "about his person" so if it isn't accessible, you're good.
Carrying loaded long-guns is generally legal except for *some* counties:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-915.2
To me, the question is when is a gun (this could be ANY gun, pistol, etc) loaded in VA, legally speaking? I'll even take a Federal ruling if you have one!
I would lock the rifle in my trunk, unloaded (action open, let's say). I will then hide the gun inside the trunk so when I open it, no one can tell the rifle is in there. I will then load a magazine and place it on the other side of the trunk, also hidden from common observation.
I appreciate the help looking this up in advance. I look forward to a good discussion about the law as it stands in Virginia.
Thanks guys
Please Read First: If you want to argue about whether carrying a rifle in your vehicle is a good idea, please proceed directly to the General Discussion forum and start your own thread. I may even join you there. This thread is meant to discuss and clarify VA code and case-law. Unfortunately, the previous thread dealing with this was locked and, IMO, it was locked for good reason. Perhaps we could discuss that in the Forum Rules section.
-------------------------------------
So I've heard people tell me they do this. I'm not certain I will ever do this, but I'd like to know what the law (code and case-law) has to say about it in Virginia.
I have a rifle, for the moment, let's say it's your grand-pa's Elmer-Fudd, bolt-action, detachable box-magazine-fed rifle. This rifle, including its magazine, will accommodate exactly 8 rounds for center-fire rifle ammunition. I want to ride around the great Commonwealth of VA with it in my trunk or some locked case, outside of immediate reach of the driver or passenger.
It should be legal to have a long-gun in your trunk: http://leg1.state.va.us/000/cod/18.2-308.HTM only applies to weapons "about his person" so if it isn't accessible, you're good.
Carrying loaded long-guns is generally legal except for *some* counties:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-915.2
To me, the question is when is a gun (this could be ANY gun, pistol, etc) loaded in VA, legally speaking? I'll even take a Federal ruling if you have one!
I would lock the rifle in my trunk, unloaded (action open, let's say). I will then hide the gun inside the trunk so when I open it, no one can tell the rifle is in there. I will then load a magazine and place it on the other side of the trunk, also hidden from common observation.
I appreciate the help looking this up in advance. I look forward to a good discussion about the law as it stands in Virginia.
Thanks guys