[Kharn]

I'm approaching the end of my junior year in college, which means its internship time. Hopefully, I'll be able to get an internship near my cousin's place in Dahlgren, VA, but this raises a few questions:

I'm probably not going to be switching my residency to VA (even though I would love to), so a VA CHL isnt an option, has anyone had any experiences using a non-resident CHL from Idaho or Texas in VA?

Can anyone recommend a CHL/personal protection training class in the Dahlgren/Fredericksburg area? I'd like to keep the cost below $100/person if possible, since I'll probably be paying for both my girlfriend and I to take the class, but slightly over is acceptable.

Are there any problems with open carry in the Dahlgren/Fredericksburg area? I probably wont be carrying openly a lot, but it'd be good to know if the option is available.

Can I keep a rifle or shotgun in my SUV, and are there any problems with having loaded magazines with the rifle? Packing.org details the handgun laws, but doesnt touch rifles.

Kharn

[XLMiguel]

Kharn-
Try contacting this guy -Helmie Ashiblie
i-SHOT Sports Shooting Accessories
www.arcamgroup.com/i-shot/
He's a TFL alum and on teh VA Shooter's list. They're been trying to organize several SD clases, some in teh Frburg/Stafford area in your timeframe IIRC.

Pistol in plain sight is OK in VA, though in some parts (e.g. FAirfax)they may hassle you as a public nusiance. Loaded rifle/shotgun in car is a no-no, loaded mag separate & discrete ??? Try NRA.org for full VA firearms laws or contact teh AG's ofice in Richmond.

Frburg probably more tolerant of open carry that NOVA, but that's just an opinion. I'd be inclined to observe my environment for a while.

Enjoy your summer. Best regards,

[Poodleshooter]

Hi Kharn,
If all you need is a CHL class, then the NRA Basic Pistol course is sufficient. Our club charges $20-25 for taking the course. Laws on loaded rifles and shotguns vary by county. They should be available at www.dgif.state.va.us under the hunting-rules and regulations. As a general rule, most counties consider a rifle or shotgun with shells in the tube or a loaded magazine inserted in the mag well to be a loaded rifle. It's not as strict as the MD convention, though it could vary from officer to officer.
I wouldn't carry openly in VA anywhere north of I-64 or in any incorporated city. It happens, even in my town, but it's usually not worth the hassle. Take a small knife.
My brother in law is getting a TX CHL and may return with it. They're accepted but I have no experience with that. The VA state police list the acceptable permits on their website so officers should know.

[Kharn]

Poodle: We're looking for a little more than the bare minimum, my GF has never had any formal instruction (besides the MD gun safety video) and I've only had the training the Boy Scouts conduct for the rifle and shotgun merit badges. Does your club also offer basic rifle, basic shotgun and/or personal protection? For that low of a fee, we'd probably take more than one. Does your club have a website or email address?

Kharn

[i-SHOT]

Mike, thanks, bro. Appreciate the plug.

Kharn, I don't usually say this but do not discount the NRA Basic Pistol course that Poodleshooter conducts. The focus is on the very essential fundamentals and that is a good way to start. The focus on safety is essential.

Once you've got the intro covered, you might wanna consider some sorta Defense Handgun classes. We don't have many in our neck of the woods and if there is, it's usually sporadic. I've even asked David Blinder of PDT in Atlanta to consider extending his classes into out locality. I don't make a living of this but I'm a big believer in spending your money, not on another gun, but on good instruction / class.

There is a fellow shooter on this list, Joel Kliesen (sp?), whom I think is starting to get instructors in for such classes in Richmond. I don't know how far he has gotten with this though.

In NoVA, I know that Blue Ridge Arsenal ( http://www.blueridgearsenal.com/ ) in Chantilly, has occasional defense handgun classes so you might wanna check with them. I think Harry Merchant runs it there. New owner, new curriculum.

Apart from this, unless you are willing to take a drive, the one instructor I highly recommend (and so do some of the folks at SWAT magazine) is Patrick Goodale ( http://www.pgpft.com ). He lives in Covington, VA but has his range in Alderson, WV. For his quality of instruction, he is totally underpriced at $125 for the day, usually 8 am to 6 pm.

You might wanna check his schedule and possibly give his Defense Handgun I class a shot. It's great for both new shooters and those with some experience. I'm hosting a Special Handgun I & II class on April 12 & 13 but a back-to-back (2 day) class like this might be a tad more than you would like to get into.

If there's any other info you might need on the on-goings around NoVa and Stafford County, feel free to email me. I try my best to keep abreast of who's doing what and what's taking place. That's the one good thing about 'being in the biz', work and play is essential the same thing :)

Safe shooting.

[Leatherneck]

Are there any problems with open carry in the Dahlgren/Fredericksburg area?
You probably already know this, but weapons on the base at Dahlgren are verboten, and Maryland begins at the Potomac shoreline.
I wouldn't carry openly in VA anywhere north of I-64 or in any incorporated city. I'd say you would be OK (using discretion) a bit North of there, say Stafford, Prince William and Fauquier counties and South/West. Enjoy your stay.

TC
TFL Survivor

[Bacchus]

Mike,
You mentioned a VA shooter's list. Got a URL for it?

Thanks a bunch.

[XLMiguel]

here ya go:
VaShooters@griffonsoftware.com
Its basically a group of TFL alumnae from VA, pretty inforaml, also might want to get on VCDL to sniff teh political wind-
www.vcdl.org
Cheers, M2

[Bacchus]

Thanks! I'll take a look at them.

[Ironbarr]

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/

State Police for about all the links to official info you may need including current reciprocity/recognition.

http://www.vcdl.org

Virginia Citizens Defense League for free VA-ALert mail list - keeps you up to date re political shenanagans and successes (ask Philip Van Cleave for open/concealed carry, etc., around the state).

I believe you will find Virginia to be a bit more free than present location.

-Andy

[Kharn]

IronBarr: I definitely will enjoy the freedom in Va.

Everyone: Thanks for your help and advice, I'll probably make a decision in April for what training program we're going to take.

Kharn