[SteelyNirvana]

Drove from NC to visit my inlaws the weekend in VA. I brought my SP101 with me to throwe in my pocket JIC I had broke down or had a blow out and had to walk to the nearest gas station for help. Virginia is'nt the best state to be walking on the road alone. I don't have a CCW. I made the trip up and back fine but one thing kept running through my head. What if I was walking along the interstate and been aproached by a LEO. Should I imedietly inform him/her that I was carrying but did'nt have a CCW and the reason why? or should I wait until he/she offers me a ride and then declare that I am carrying and the reason why? How do you think a situation like this would be handled?

[conw]

Best option would be to open carry if you had that situation, because it's legal in VA and NC. And a Ruger SP101 would be fun to OC. ;-)

[zoom6zoom]

You could have open carried legally without a permit. If no holster you could have stuck it in your waistband so that the grip was showing. No need to break the law by CC'ing without permit.

[NavyLCDR]

It's best just to get a cheap $15 holster for that and open carry.

[SCKimberFan]

Your query reminds each of us that we need to check other states gun laws when travelling into or through them. I have a SC CWP and a NH pistol permit, but neither are recognized by WV, so I guess I have to stop, put the gun in its case and lock it in the trunk. Unless y'all can give me better advice.

[conw]

www.opencarry.org has good guns law resources for open carry. Lots of non-CCW-reciprocal states seem to have some degree of open carry legality if I remember.

If no holster you could have stuck it in your waistband so that the grip was showing

zoom6zoom, that is a last resort, but in some states it's only legal for OC if you have a holster. Personally I think this is actually somewhat reasonable looking at our current laws, for a variety of reasons. To me, a pistol sticking out of a waistband looks like a threat; also, it's very easy to conceal "Mexican style" in the waistband and then go "open carry" as needed if this is considered a legitimate way of open carrying.

Personally, I'm okay with anything as long as it isn't actually doing harm to people, so theoretically I am okay with a pistol strapped to someone's chin if they choose to carry that way. But in our current climate I don't find the "pistol sticking out of a waistband" a very attractive mode of carry, and I'm pretty sure most cops wouldn't either.

[SteelyNirvana]

Thanks for all the replies. The holster and open carry way sounds good, thats what I'll do next time going out of town. Besides, I need to buy one for the 'lil Ruger anyway:)

[JohnBlaze]

also, it's very easy to conceal "Mexican style" in the waistband and then go "open carry" as needed if this is considered a legitimate way of open carrying. :confused: what is that?

[wdlsguy]

You should get a CHL, NC has very good reciprocity.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USReciprocity.pdf