Virginia State Laws Regarding Carrying Guns Openly Without a Permit
Openly carrying a gun is a controversial issue. Some people feel that it is an unsafe practice that encourages violence. Others feel that if they have the right to do so, they will exercise that right. According to the website Opencarry.org, "a right unexercised is a right lost." In Virginia, citizens have the right to open-carry handguns.
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Open-Carry Defined
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Open-carrying is when you have a gun on you that is in plain sight. The gun must be secured in some type of holster and it cannot be covered. In Virginia, you do not need a permit to open-carry a handgun.
When open-carrying you must be careful to leave the gun uncovered so that it is visible. If the gun is covered by an item such as your shirt or your handbag, that is considered a concealed weapon. Under Virginia law you need a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
It should be noted that carrying a gun in your hand is not considered open-carrying and it is against the law.
Open-Carry in Virginia
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The State of Virginia sets all laws in regards to firearms. Localities in Virginia are not allowed to set their own laws. There is no state law that specifically says that open-carrying is illegal in Virginia, therefore it is legal. However, it is not recommend according to Kristen Rand of the Violence Policy Center in Washington. Rand told the Washington Post that open-carrying is just not a good idea.
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Restrictions
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There are some places that you cannot legally carry a gun. These places include schools, places of worship, airports, courthouses, federal buildings, state parks and detention facilities. It is also against Virginia law to carry a gun at George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University. There are some exceptions to these restrictions, such as if you are a law-enforcement officer.
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References
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- Photo Credit a gun image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
