VA Open Carry

[VARifleman]

As long as the 20 round mag doesn't actually hold 21 rounds, and you aren't using a folding stock or it has a threaded barrel, yeah. I don't know much about the Mini-14 though, so make sure to examine it to see.

Maybe over on OCDO we could set up a picnic at burke lake park again...see if the same thing happens. That was some funny video after that occurrence.

Also, it seems that a 18.5" barreled shotgun with a mag extension would fit the bill too. That would be interesting.

 

[Aaryq]

So, since I'm in Prince William County, I can't open carry then? Now it says a loaded firearm. If I were to carry an empty firearm and spare magazines/speedloaders elsewhere on my belt, would that still be considered loaded?

I am here on vacation. I have to wait until I get my place in NC. I just transfered from CA so I'm still kind of trying to get set up. I can't get an NC CCL because I'm not a NC resident, I'm an ND resident on active duty. I can, however, and am working on it, getting a non-resident VA CPL. I just need to go armed, my first 3 days 3 or 4 people have been shot withing a mile of where I'm staying.

Thanks for all of the answers, you're helping me out a lot.

 

[VARifleman]

Read the whole section. You can open carry a loaded pistol, just don't have a mag in it that holds more than 20 rounds or one that has a threaded barrel.

 

[YetAnotherSam]

In Virginia, you can carry a firearm on school property IF:
1) You have a concealed carry permit.
2) Firearm stays in car.
3) Firearm is concealed.

 

[VARifleman]

YAS, that is true, but is not pertinent to this thread because we are talking about unlicensed open carry. Welcome to THR.

 

[YetAnotherSam]

The Walther P-22 is a rather common firearm, but it looks like it would not be allowed under VA's open carry law: it has a threaded barrel and could accept a suppressor.
If I interpret this correctly, somebody could get in a heap of trouble quite by accident if the cop knows guns.

 

[VARifleman]

Therein lies the problem with crazy gun laws like what we have. Non-criminal behavior can get you in serious trouble. But specifically that, only in the localities noted in that section is it unlawful to open carry a weapon with a threaded barrel without a CCW.

 

[MAKster]

The Virginia law says centerfire rifle or pistol, so a Walther 22lr with a threaded barrel would still be legal to open carry.

 

[Aaryq]

Okay, here's where I'm confused then (yes, I'm a rock but I want to make crystal clear that I can do this so I don't get in trouble).

The law says:

§ 18.2-287.4. Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.

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.

(1991, c. 570; 1992, c. 790; 2003, c. 976; 2004, c. 995; 2005, c. 160; 2007, c. 813.)

So I can OC in Prince William County, just not the firearms that meet that specific criteria, right?

Man, I love you folks. Thanks for your paitence.

 

[VARifleman]

The Virginia law says centerfire rifle or pistol, so a Walther 22lr with a threaded barrel would still be legal to open carry.

That is right...I missed that when responding. Thanks for correcting me.

 

[JJNA]

If you open-carry a rifle anywhere other than an area where hunting is the primary recreational activity, PM me before you do it. I want to get the video.

Well, I am not sure that I am quite ready to be a martyr just yet.

But the thought did cross my mind that perhaps I ought to open carry a Mini-14 (provided it meets the legal criteria) on my HOA property where ATVers trespass on a weekly basis every Saturday and Sunday, despite many warnings, etc.

I do not plan to be threatening in any way, of course, or even speak to the trespassers -- just walk about on my own HOA property, exercising my open carry rights in VA.

 

[Aaryq]

Quick BTT so I double check clarification.