Hampton Roads - OC reports

drdan01 said:

And I've even seen them ask someone who'd been shooting in a lane next to mine who then got ready to leave, was back in OC and they stopped them and told them please unload.

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Yep, nothing safer than unnecessary handling of a firearm.

This moronic "rule" is far more likely to harm someone than leaving the firearm securely holstered. If their rules are stupid, then they probably are, too.

I wonder if they ask concealed carriers if their guns are loaded? Oh, wait, they don't know if someone is conceal carrying.

See? Stupid.

drdan01 said:

I've been using Superior's range (VA BH Blvd) for years and I think that every single time that I've been at the range counter checking in, I've watched them notice someone OC'ing and have seen them ask. And I've even seen them ask someone who'd been shooting in a lane next to mine who then got ready to leave, was back in OC and they stopped them and told them please unload. One time I was checking in and saw a couple come up to look around, he was OC and got asked -- he replied that he was, they told him that he needed to comply with the rule, he gave them some lip and the requested that he then immediately leave. I've never seen them pay attention to anyone just carrying range bags (which could and I'm sure have held loaded weapons). I've been going there for so long that frankly the rules sheet that they give you is something that I honestly don't look at when I annually renew, but I believe that at least it used to say that violation of that rule was something that could result in range priv's being revoked. So you might have gone to another Superior (although the one in Newport News is the same from my experience) or they perhaps they thought they saw no magazine, but Superior is pretty consistent in what they do from my experience of about 10 years going there.

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I mainly go to the Superior off Lynnhaven to shoot, but I go to both the one off Lynnhaven and the one off VA Bch Blvd to shop, and occasionally do shoot at the VA Bch Blvd range. Like I said, no one has ever asked me to unload, whether it was loaded, or anything else for that matter. I've even walked around the store on VA Bch Blvd with staff while OCing to talk about different items, and again, no one has ever commented one way or another about my OC. I honestly can't answer to why they've never given me any trouble about unloading or not. But, overall, my experience has been good at both stores/ranges.

I have been to both superior range locations (lynnhaven and BLVD) and never been stopped. Granted I have not been going that long and maybe I have just been lucky. I will check next time I go to Lynnhaven but I was almost positive their sign listed 3 possible choices for bringing a weapon on to the premise and one of the allowable conditions was a "properly holstered weapon" and implied in plain site. I will check again and update soon.

wrearick said:

I will check next time I go to Lynnhaven but I was almost positive their sign listed 3 possible choices for bringing a weapon on to the premise and one of the allowable conditions was a "properly holstered weapon" and implied in plain site. I will check again and update soon.

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Cool. Please do. Perhaps they recently changed this as that is ridiculously dumb. Like Wylde said, unnecessarily handling the firearm to clear it is far more dangerous than keeping it in the holster and secure. I would have to choose not to patronize them or anywhere else that requires me to unload.

HearseGuy said:

Cool. Please do. Perhaps they recently changed this as that is ridiculously dumb. Like Wylde said, unnecessarily handling the firearm to clear it is far more dangerous than keeping it in the holster and secure. I would have to choose not to patronize them or anywhere else that requires me to unload.

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Okay, since this is a hot topic I didn't want to the forum members to wait for me to get by the range (currently having some work done on my weapons so it could be a week before I got there).

I called and spoke to Eric at the Lynnhaven location (757-427-2627) and here are the 3 posted ways to bring a weapon on to the facility
1. Legally holstered. (does NOT have to be unloaded)
2. Unloaded in a case
3. if hand carried in (literally in your hand), the magazine must be removed and the action locked open. (not sure of the equivalent for a revolver but I am sure someone on here is).

This seems very reasonable to me. If you walk in with a weapon in your hand they need to KNOW/SEE that it is unloaded and does not present a threat.

I also called the BLVD location (757-490-4760) and as has been mentioned above, their rules are different because they are a pawn shop(although the person wasn't sure if that was the reason they were different). They do want you unloaded there. The guy (didn't give his name) was not too clear and sounded very unsure in his responses. When he first said unloaded and when I asked if legally holstered was okay he said yes but then back pedaled and said it could be legally holstered but unloaded. I will drive by that location tonight and read the actual verbage on the sign but I think they are unsure themselves what their rules are. Additionally, the times that I have been in there, open carrying (2 or 3 times) they were busy so it could be I wasn't challenged or asked to unload because they were too busy to notice.

So bottom line, at this point OC (as we know it here on the forum) is ALLOWED at Lynnhaven range, but not in the shop area at the BLVD location. (that location also has a seperate entrance to the range that may be marked differently. I will check that also this evening.

Bill

wrearick said:

Okay, since this is a hot topic I didn't want to the forum members to wait for me to get by the range (currently having some work done on my weapons so it could be a week before I got there).

I called and spoke to Eric at the Lynnhaven location (757-427-2627) and here are the 3 posted ways to bring a weapon on to the facility
1. Legally holstered. (does NOT have to be unloaded)
2. Unloaded in a case
3. if hand carried in (literally in your hand), the magazine must be removed and the action locked open. (not sure of the equivalent for a revolver but I am sure someone on here is).

This seems very reasonable to me. If you walk in with a weapon in your hand they need to KNOW/SEE that it is unloaded and does not present a threat.

I also called the BLVD location (757-490-4760) and as has been mentioned above, their rules are different because they are a pawn shop(although the person wasn't sure if that was the reason they were different). They do want you unloaded there. The guy (didn't give his name) was not too clear and sounded very unsure in his responses. When he first said unloaded and when I asked if legally holstered was okay he said yes but then back pedaled and said it could be legally holstered but unloaded. I will drive by that location tonight and read the actual verbage on the sign but I think they are unsure themselves what their rules are. Additionally, the times that I have been in there, open carrying (2 or 3 times) they were busy so it could be I wasn't challenged or asked to unload because they were too busy to notice.

So bottom line, at this point OC (as we know it here on the forum) is ALLOWED at Lynnhaven range, but not in the shop area at the BLVD location. (that location also has a seperate entrance to the range that may be marked differently. I will check that also this evening.

Bill

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This is pretty much in tune with what I've seen with both of these locations. But even the store on the BLVD has never made an issue of me not unloading while OCing in their store. It could be they didn't notice, the staff was not properly schooled in their policies, or any number of other reasons. Either way, I'll not be handling my gun unnecessarily, and if they ask me, I'll clear it, otherwise it'll stay safely in my holster as it always does.

Thanks for doing the research! :lol:

wrearick said:

Okay, since this is a hot topic I didn't want to the forum members to wait for me to get by the range (currently having some work done on my weapons so it could be a week before I got there).

I called and spoke to Eric at the Lynnhaven location (757-427-2627) and here are the 3 posted ways to bring a weapon on to the facility
1. Legally holstered. (does NOT have to be unloaded)
2. Unloaded in a case
3. if hand carried in (literally in your hand), the magazine must be removed and the action locked open. (not sure of the equivalent for a revolver but I am sure someone on here is).

This seems very reasonable to me. If you walk in with a weapon in your hand they need to KNOW/SEE that it is unloaded and does not present a threat.

I also called the BLVD location (757-490-4760) and as has been mentioned above, their rules are different because they are a pawn shop(although the person wasn't sure if that was the reason they were different). They do want you unloaded there. The guy (didn't give his name) was not too clear and sounded very unsure in his responses. When he first said unloaded and when I asked if legally holstered was okay he said yes but then back pedaled and said it could be legally holstered but unloaded. I will drive by that location tonight and read the actual verbage on the sign but I think they are unsure themselves what their rules are. Additionally, the times that I have been in there, open carrying (2 or 3 times) they were busy so it could be I wasn't challenged or asked to unload because they were too busy to notice.

So bottom line, at this point OC (as we know it here on the forum) is ALLOWED at Lynnhaven range, but not in the shop area at the BLVD location. (that location also has a seperate entrance to the range that may be marked differently. I will check that also this evening.

Bill

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Thanks for taking the time to call!

I've not been to Lynnhaven, but when you get to VA BH the first sign you will see is a big one on the outside wall that although I don't recall how many words there are it is something basic like all weapons must be unloaded, but something short and simple like that. Then there is another to the left on the inside as you are about to enter the stairwell to go up to the range. And going from memory as to the last time I noted it, there was another one up by the range checkin counter.

wrearick said:

Okay, since this is a hot topic I didn't want to the forum members to wait for me to get by the range (currently having some work done on my weapons so it could be a week before I got there).

I called and spoke to Eric at the Lynnhaven location (757-427-2627) and here are the 3 posted ways to bring a weapon on to the facility
1. Legally holstered. (does NOT have to be unloaded)
2. Unloaded in a case
3. if hand carried in (literally in your hand), the magazine must be removed and the action locked open. (not sure of the equivalent for a revolver but I am sure someone on here is).

This seems very reasonable to me. If you walk in with a weapon in your hand they need to KNOW/SEE that it is unloaded and does not present a threat.

I also called the BLVD location (757-490-4760) and as has been mentioned above, their rules are different because they are a pawn shop(although the person wasn't sure if that was the reason they were different). They do want you unloaded there. The guy (didn't give his name) was not too clear and sounded very unsure in his responses. When he first said unloaded and when I asked if legally holstered was okay he said yes but then back pedaled and said it could be legally holstered but unloaded. I will drive by that location tonight and read the actual verbage on the sign but I think they are unsure themselves what their rules are. Additionally, the times that I have been in there, open carrying (2 or 3 times) they were busy so it could be I wasn't challenged or asked to unload because they were too busy to notice.

So bottom line, at this point OC (as we know it here on the forum) is ALLOWED at Lynnhaven range, but not in the shop area at the BLVD location. (that location also has a seperate entrance to the range that may be marked differently. I will check that also this evening.

Bill

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I concur with others on here that a properly holstered handgun is a safe handgun, and that unnecessary handling is just asking for trouble.

What is a "legally" holstered handgun? Is there a definition somewhere?

Flew in on Monday and collected my checked firearm. Open carried with no issues at my hotel and in various stores in Chesapeake. I concealed to go into Costco, since back in Washington the response to an OC firearm varies from location to location. Only comment so far was a clerk at Food Lion asking if tht was my preferred sidearm. I should make the meet up on Saturday. I would love to have coffee or such with any local carriers to discuss any current concerns, reading back through 260plus pages is not something I have time to do. In general the response has been at least as friendly as back home in Washington.

Vitaeus said:

Flew in on Monday and collected my checked firearm. Open carried with no issues at my hotel and in various stores in Chesapeake. I concealed to go into Costco, since back in Washington the response to an OC firearm varies from location to location. Only comment so far was a clerk at Food Lion asking if tht was my preferred sidearm. I should make the meet up on Saturday. I would love to have coffee or such with any local carriers to discuss any current concerns, reading back through 260plus pages is not something I have time to do. In general the response has been at least as friendly as back home in Washington.

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Overall, Hampton Roads is pretty OC friendly in my experience. I've yet to have a negative encounter while OCing (and I OC everywhere). LEOs and the public at large are pretty receptive to it... even if they don't agree with the practice, I've found that most are willing to respect others' rights to do so.

FYI - just posted in another thread here about ammo to give away, and as it is more likely going to benefit someone from Hampton Roads than elsewhere I wanted to mention here about that thread. Thanks!

Justine said:

This is pretty much in tune with what I've seen with both of these locations. But even the store on the BLVD has never made an issue of me not unloading while OCing in their store. It could be they didn't notice, the staff was not properly schooled in their policies, or any number of other reasons. Either way, I'll not be handling my gun unnecessarily, and if they ask me, I'll clear it, otherwise it'll stay safely in my holster as it always does.

Thanks for doing the research! :lol:

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They ask me to clear my weapon as a condition to spending money there, I'll gladly spend it elsewhere. Sort of a moot point as I've never been to Superior pawn, nor do I have plans for a trip, but that's not exactly in line with my views on the 2nd Amendment to be able to carry a paper weight in a holster and bullets in my pocket.

Well,
I went by the Superior location on the BLVD tonight after the store was closed. Not sure this makes everything crystal clear.
Here is the sign posted outside the main door to the pawn shop portion (known as "the store")


After the store closes, the range remains open and is a door that as you face it, you see the door pictured next which leads into the store. If you take an immediate right (without going through the door to the store) you go up a flight of stairs to the "range". Now I saw no signs prohibiting a loaded weapon on the way up to the range, only on the door to the "store" but it sounds like folks have been asked to disarm at the range as well, which as far as I can tell is NOT posted. I was pushed for time and did not go upstairs, another trip another day. Will post what I find.
Heck, I'll even politely ask the guy at the range counter what the story is!

I just noticed when reviewing my previous thread the first sign says you must be unloaded before entering the building, which would include the range, however it is possible to enter the range without going up to that first sign and the sign 'near' the range door only prohibits loaded weapons in the store......

Work has been getting in the way of OC but was able to OC to Subway and Food Lion.

I started following the bob-owens blog and I think the picture is Ed's daughter.

http://www.bob-owens.com/2013/03/lo...ompares-common-firearms-to-child-pornography/

Yep, I followed the link to Oleg's pics http://olegvolk.net/blog/2011/06/26/bullseye-brookie-and-her-6-8mm-mean-green/

45acpForMe said:

Work has been getting in the way of OC but was able to OC to Subway and Food Lion.

I started following the bob-owens blog and I think the picture is Ed's daughter.

http://www.bob-owens.com/2013/03/lo...ompares-common-firearms-to-child-pornography/

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That is indeed Brookie, Ed's daughter - how fast they grow up!

VA Open Carry - Hampton Roads

Just ordered and picked up carry out at the Cheesecake Factory. Talked to a manager while I was there as I was curious about their policies. I was told only open carry and just in the dining area not by the bar. I have yet to figure out if this is his twist on the policy or if that's from corporate.

Okay, on my way in to job #2 I stopped by and spoke to the range folks at superior Pawn and gun on Va Bch Blvd. The answer is "it depends". If you are Concealed Carrying, well then they won't ask you to unload because they don't know you are carrying.

There were three guys working the counter and the answers to the questions varied. We read the sign together and 2 out of 3 believe the store is seperate from the range. One guy (one who the store is the range especially on saturday morning) will always ask folks to unload. THe others not so much. A lot depends on how you carry yourself. If you are behaving responsible you have a 50/50 chance of not being hassled.

Now, for the rest of the story. All three guys were able to relate numerous instances where folks just do dumb things which led to the "for everyone's safety" mentality. Numerous times, folks walk up to the counter, plop their loaded firearm down on the counter pointing at the staff and say "I want to shoot this here". Others come in looking for a holster, and begin trying out various holsters with a fully loaded gun, including practice draws.

So, yes they want you to unload in your car before you come inside. If you don't, will you be hasseled? Maybe, depends on the person that see you and how many times they have had people be stupid during the earlier part of their day. One thing is pretty clear, if it leaves your holster it needs to be unloaded BEFORE you walk through the door. These guys deal with gun owners and wanna be's every day and can tell pretty quick who is responsible and who is a buckeroo.

To complicate things more, you might get asked to unload even if you have been going in every day for a week with no hassle because unbeknownst to you, they clerk had to ask the yahoo standing 5 feet down the counter to do so not more than 3 minutes before you walked in the door and if they don't ask you the guy is going to raise a stink. Food for thought... sometimes it is not just about us.

private property, they gets to make the rules. I also get to decide not to give them my money.

Re: VA Open Carry - Hampton Roads

Well Suffolk pd arrested me for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, because I had my kahr in my non lockable glove box :-/ .

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