Virginia Gun Law Alerting Many

[IgotWRXed]

As reported today in the Washington Post:

Guns Worn In Open Legal, But Alarm Va.
'Exercising Right' Called 'Unreasonable' by Some
By Tom Jackman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 15, 2004; Page A01

On July 2, Fairfax County police received a 911 call from a Champps restaurant in Reston. Six men are seated at a table, the caller said. They're all armed.

Dispatchers quickly sent four officers to the scene. The officers were "extremely polite" and were hoping that some of the men were in law enforcement, said Sgt. Richard Perez, a spokesman for the police department. None was.

The men told the officers "they were just exercising their rights as citizens of the commonwealth," Perez said.

Turns out, packing a pistol in public is perfectly legal in Virginia. And three times in the last month, including at Champps on Sunset Hills Road, residents have been spotted out and about in the county, with guns strapped to their hips, exercising that right.

In the first episode, at a Starbucks, Fairfax police wrongly confiscated weapons from two college students and charged them with a misdemeanor. Police realized their mistake, returned the guns and tore up the charges the next day. Police commanders have since issued a reminder to officers that "open carry" is the law of the land in the Old Dominion.

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, an organization of thousands of Virginia gun owners, said members were involved in all three police encounters. But he said there was no coordinated campaign to start packing heat publicly.

"It was probably more of a coincidence, but not completely," Van Cleave said, noting that word of the improper confiscation spread quickly among members through e-mail. "This is a good opportunity to educate people. We have this inherent right, and not many people exercised it."

In Virginia, as in many states, carrying a concealed weapon requires a permit, issued by a local court. But no permit is required to simply wield a gun in the open, a right reinforced by a state law that took effect July 1. Not so in the District and Maryland, unless you're a police or federal officer.

Fairfax police are baffled by the sudden display of weaponry but assume it was done to make some sort of statement.

"Crime is at 20-year lows in the county," Lt. Col. Charles K. Peters pointed out, even though the population is soaring. The county's homicide rate was the lowest in the nation last year among the 30 largest jurisdictions. "Hopefully no one feels the need to carry a gun, lawfully or unlawfully," Peters said. "But there's no question it is lawful to carry a gun on the street. So we've had to ensure that all of our officers are updated on the nuances of Virginia law that allow citizens to carry firearms in public places."

Although legal, it is disconcerting to some people.

"This just shows you the extreme nature of what they're trying to do," said Bob Ricker, head of Virginians for Public Safety. "You don't want to go to Starbucks or Reston Town Center and see somebody with a firearm strapped on," he added, referring to two locations where armed patrons were found. "It's just something that I think is completely unreasonable. We all understand the concept of self-defense. . . . But when you're talking about Fairfax County, you have to look at what is reasonable."

The first incident, at a Starbucks on Leesburg Pike near Tysons Corner, might have inspired other gun owners to carry openly. It began shortly before 10 p.m. June 14, Perez said, with a complaint from a citizen. Police arrived to find a 19-year-old man carrying a .22-caliber pistol and a 21-year-old man with a 9mm pistol.

Perez said an officer spoke with the men, then took their guns and charged them with possession of a firearm in a public place. Virginia law 18.2-287.4 expressly prohibits "carrying loaded firearms in public areas."...

For the complete story as reported go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...-2004Jul14.html

[black_magician]

kinda ironic, but I would be scared of being shot if i was walking around with a gun. I'd feel safer without one.

[blah]

hmmm lets give people guns in public, when everyother day we say that terrorist could strike at anypoint, cause fear and panic? real smart move there.

[RC45]

Good.

More open carry would result is less violence - as meat heads, thugs and bozos would think twice about making trouble.

Remember, these are all licensed leggaly obtained and owned weapons.

[666fast]

A judge here just ruled the Carry and Conceal law unconstitutional. Not sure how, but I'm glad. People don't need to walk around with guns.
I know here, the permit process to be able to walk around with a gun is pretty strict. But that still doesn't change my opinion. People do not need to walk around with a gun.

The law or whatever, was passed last year. Amazingly, it has yet to cause any problems. Despite many claims of higher murder rates and such.

[graywolf624]

but I'm glad. People don't need to walk around with guns

People do not need to walk around with a gun.

Who are you to say? What basis? Do you realize that areas with open carry laws have a lower percentage of violent crime? Do you realize that an area where they required all citizens to have guns had the lowest crime rate in georgia? Do you realize that for all the anti gun bashing, america has a lower violent crime rate then most anti gun countries, including england. How about that Australia and england both have had steadily increasing crime rates since their newer gun laws.

Guns dont kill people, people kill people.
Someone here said something about terrorists.. the problem with your logic is your assuming the terrorists are the only one who carry guns. Bad people are not the only ones to carry guns and guns have legitimate uses.
I even know people who arent in law enforcement that should carry guns, their called truck drivers.

Thankfully that antiassault weapon ban will not be continued.. And before you people give me that crap, there idea of assault weapon and what you picture in your mind are two different things. Were not talking fully auto here. Not to mention its funny to watch the anti gun lobby speak and hold guns.. there the ones that shouldnt have them, cause they obviously have no understanding of proper gun safety.. Kerry sure as hell doesnt.. I have a pic of the stupid sob with his finger on the trigger with the gun pointed at the ground..FINGER DOES NOT GO ON THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR READY TO SHOOT>> AND NEVER POINT THE GUN AT ANYTHING YOU ARENT WILLING TO SHOOT!.

"Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:04 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A judge here just ruled the Carry and Conceal law unconstitutional
"


Thatll get appealed and overturned.. Thats the damn problem with the stupid judges.. They try to be activists.. there not there to make laws.. The constitution clearly says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

[graywolf624]

don't have a track record of any sort and have the weapons registered

Which is required in every state.. even before the waiting period instituted in the 90s they had insta background checks in most states.

[X-ale]

Originally Posted by RC45 Good. More open carry would result is less violence - as meat heads, thugs and bozos would think twice about making trouble. Remember, these are all licensed leggaly obtained and owned weapons.

You have a point but isn't it better to surrender to a hostage situation than having a shoot out...

[RC45]

Originally Posted by X-ale Originally Posted by RC45 Good. More open carry would result is less violence - as meat heads, thugs and bozos would think twice about making trouble. Remember, these are all licensed legally obtained and owned weapons. You have a point but isn't it better to surrender to a hostage situation than having a shoot out...

No - why should I have to be at some punks mercy?

I would like to not have the punk be brave enough to try hold me up in the first place.

[graywolf624]

"You have a point but isn't it better to surrender to a hostage situation than having a shoot out..."

The point is they are less likely to attack someone if they are armed too. They dont even go to a shootout.

Whos house would you break into.. Joe anti gun.. or the guy who you know has a nice revolver in a locked drawer next to his bed?

Criminals are cowards at heart, if they werent theyd be willing to work hard for there stuff like anyone else.

With your gun laws the only people that give up their guns is the innocent. The criminals will have them.

[666fast]

Do you realize that areas with open carry laws have a lower percentage of violent crime?

We don't have an open carry law. It's Conceal and Carry. As far as I know, you can't openly carry a weapon. Thats the problem, the conceal part. If the guy next to me at the bar has a gun, I want to know about it.

Minnesotas answer is that any private establishment has to put a sign up stating that guns are banned. Lot of good that is gonna do when the gun is hidden neatly in someones purse or jacket.
Open carrying is a bit different. Criminals prey on the weak, and they obviously aren't going to go mug the guy with a pistol strapped to his hip. But they are more than willing to do something to someone that they don't know has a gun on them.

I myself own a few guns, but I don't see the need to walk around with one. I support the right to own a gun, not to walk around with one hidden in your jacket.

your assuming the terrorists are the only one who carry guns. Bad people are not the only ones to carry guns

I'd like to know where I "assumed" terrorists are the only ones with guns. I know full well that bad people aren't the only ones with guns. Like I stated earlier, I've got a few myself. Am I a bad person? I don't think so.
Maybe it's locales, I don't know. Gun Violence is non-existant in my city. All I know is I'd rather not have the pin head next to me at the restaraunt think he's tough because he has a gun in his jacket.
No need to jump down my throat. I didn't know I was the freakin anti-christ for thinking conceal and carry laws weren't the best idea.

Kerry sure as hell doesnt.. I have a pic of the stupid sob with his finger on the trigger with the gun pointed at the ground..FINGER DOES NOT GO ON THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR READY TO SHOOT>> AND NEVER POINT THE GUN AT ANYTHING YOU ARENT WILLING TO SHOOT!.

You are right on the trigger bit, he shouldn't have had his finger on the trigger. But he wasn't wrong when pointing at the ground. It may have been a few years since I took gun safety, but they say to point it up, or at the ground.

[blah]

i say make the bullets more expensive as Chris Rock said. But i dont think people need to carry around guns though, it could cause more accidental shootings. I can see it now, Billy bob why did you shoot him, Cuz i thought wwas gunna rob Me.

[SFDMALEX]

Originally Posted by blah i say make the bullets more expensive as Chris Rock said.

hehe. Cris Rock is the best! Yeah make bullits 5000$ each, everyone will think overtime about shooting someone then.


Back on topic.

I dont think its right for the general public to carry weapons. If I am at a bar and everyone is strapped with a pistol the chance of someone getting shot is high. Especially in Miami where looking in a wrong place for a nanosecond will get you in trouble.

Like 666fast said. If someone is carrying a weapon then I want to know about it.

Plus the fact that the general public are carrying guns is pretty sad. It tells me that people are afraid. And NO ONE, NO ONE should be afraid of walking down the street. If criminals are a problem put more cops on the street and give a life sentence for anything from robbery to scratching someones car.

[666fast]

If criminals are a problem put more cops on the street

Can't, not enough money they say.

<--- Glad to live in a small town where nothing happens! LOL

[blinkmeat]

AMERICA the safest country in the World!