Rolled Out On: 8/21/2008 5:25 PM

The state police website has a good rundown on the firearms laws. Go here for info. It also has a list of concealed carry permit reciprocity.

The VA concealed weapon law is here.

Since you're in Norfolk, pay particular attention to Code Sec. 18.2-287.4 "Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty." Norfolk is listed. It reads (bolding added):

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry a loaded (a) semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (b) shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to law-enforcement officers, licensed security guards, military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, or any person having a valid concealed handgun permit or to any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or lawful recreational shooting activities at an established shooting range or shooting contest. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The exemptions set forth in § 18.2-308 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the provisions of this section.

Rolled Out On: 8/21/2008 5:29 PM

I tried to post some VA gun law info for you and got flagged as spam. If my comment disappears on you, try the VA state police web site (http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms.shtm). They have most of the laws explained there.

Rolled Out On: 8/21/2008 8:20 PM

Good Luck Robb!

Rolled Out On: 8/21/2008 10:58 PM

Although we grouse about it, it's actually pretty hard to run afoul of Virginia's gun laws, especially when compared to other states.

First, there are no laws dealing specifically with open carry. They either refer to carrying (IOW, concealed AND open), or concealed alone.

Stay away from schools and courthouses, and if you go into a bar or restaurant that sells alcohol, you can't conceal carry. After that, there's not much to be said.

But yeah, check out the Virginia State Police site that Jake linked.

Rolled Out On: 8/22/2008 1:01 AM

Not too much worry about in VA. The NRA considers them an a free state (or is it open state?). Listen to what the person above said, check the fairly lax laws and everything should be fine.