imported post
Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings; but the Virginia Administrative Code is not yet fixed. If you have a CHP, you can carry CONCEALED on National Forest lands. Open carry is not yet available. As pointed out, Governor Bob needs to get on this for us. (I have cut out non-pertinent sections of the regulations to shorten this post)
4VAC15-40-60. Hunting with dogs or
possession of weapons in certain locations during closed season.
A. Department-owned lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and
national forest lands statewide. It shall be unlawful to have in possession... any
firearm that is not unloaded and cased or dismantled on
all national forest lands statewide …except during the period when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, or waterfowl on these lands.
D. Shooting ranges and authorized activities. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the conduct of any activities authorized by the board or the establishment and operation of archery and shooting ranges on the lands described in subsection A ..of this section. The use of firearms… in such ranges during the closed season period will be restricted to the area within the established range boundaries. Such weapons shall be required to be unloaded and cased or dismantled in all areas other than the range boundaries. The use of firearms… during the closed hunting period in such ranges shall be restricted to target shooting only and no birds or animals shall be molested.
F. It shall be unlawful to possess or transport
any loaded firearm... in or on any vehicle at any time on
national forest lands or department-owned lands.
G. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the possession, transport and use of loaded firearms by employees of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries while engaged in the performance of their authorized and official duties,
nor shall it prohibit possession and transport of loaded concealed handguns where the individual possesses a concealed handgun permit as defined in § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia.
H. Meaning of "possession" of…
firearm and definition of… "l
oaded firearm." For the purpose of this section, the word "possession" shall include, but not be limited to, having any …
firearm in or on one's person, vehicle or conveyance. For the purpose of this section, a "loaded firearm" shall be defined as a firearm in which ammunition is chambered or loaded in the magazine or clip when such magazine or clip is engaged or partially engaged in a firearm. The definition of a loaded muzzleloading firearm will include a muzzleloading firearm that is capped, or has a charged pan, or has a primer or battery installed in the firearm….
I'm still trying to figure out the grammatical construction that forbids having any firearm "in one's person". Not a pretty mental picture...