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ODA 226 · 04-14-2008, 08:49

I am former Virginia Law Enforcement and currently possess a Virginia Concealed Handgun Licence. Being former LE, and an active concealed carrier, I feel the need to chime in here.

I agree with my QP's that it is prudent to carry concealed whenever possible. Unfortunately due to our idiot Governor, there are places that we Virginians go during the course of our everyday lives that REQUIRE us to make a decision to either:
1. DISARM ourselves to comply with (stupid) state laws.
2. ILLEGALLY carry into prohibited areas, such as restaurants that serve alcohol.
3. Open Carry into restaurants and take the chance of:
A: Letting everyone know that we are armed. OR:
B: Taking a chance of being asked to leave the premises.

I always exercise option B Open Carry as distasteful as I find it. I too, am a member of OpenCarry.org and regularly attend their meetings to garner support for all Second Amendment rights and to politicize how stupid it is for our governor to FORCE CHL holders to expose that fact that they are armed to everyone and his mother. There are currently over 150,000 CHL holders in Virginia and we are quickly becoming a political force to be reckoned with.

While I disagree in principle about about open carry in most instances, it IS a right guaranteed under the 2A and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I strongly disagree with my fellow QP's that open carry in a state that does not expressly PROHIBIT it, such as NC, will automatically result in an arrest. Open carry in and of itself is NOT a crime and does not automatically warrant a "Terry Stop". (See Terry v. Ohio).

A good example of a recent illegal Terry stop and subsequent ILLEGAL ARREST in Virginia can be found here:

Szymecki v. The City of Norfolk

http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum54/9374.html

Mr. Szymecki and his wife are soon to be $350,000 richer and the arresting Deputy is sure to get fired or at least, severely spanked.

I WILL NOT leave my $1,300.00 Springfield .45 in the glove compartment of my rag-top Jeep to be stolen and used in a street-crime! if asked to leave an eatery, I will gladly do so, but in the past months, I've never been asked to do so. I have been asked about my weapon by management in the past and I simply tell them that I have a CHL, but in order to comply with state law, I am open carrying and that I, as a responsible citizen, have a moral duty to ensure that my weapon is not stolen to be used in a crime.

It is also my duty as a citizen of the US and the Commonwealth of Virginia to support other citizens that are exersizing their rights under the 2A and the Virginia Constitution even if I don't think it is the most "prudent" thing to do. Unfortunately in Virginia, Open Carry under these circumstances is the ONLY thing to do.

226

04-14-2008, 08:49	#15
ODA 226 Quiet Professional Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 400	I am former Virginia Law Enforcement and currently possess a Virginia Concealed Handgun Licence. Being former LE, and an active concealed carrier, I feel the need to chime in here. I agree with my QP's that it is prudent to carry concealed whenever possible. Unfortunately due to our idiot Governor, there are places that we Virginians go during the course of our everyday lives that REQUIRE us to make a decision to either: 1. DISARM ourselves to comply with (stupid) state laws. 2. ILLEGALLY carry into prohibited areas, such as restaurants that serve alcohol. 3. Open Carry into restaurants and take the chance of: A: Letting everyone know that we are armed. OR: B: Taking a chance of being asked to leave the premises. I always exercise option B Open Carry as distasteful as I find it. I too, am a member of OpenCarry.org and regularly attend their meetings to garner support for all Second Amendment rights and to politicize how stupid it is for our governor to FORCE CHL holders to expose that fact that they are armed to everyone and his mother. There are currently over 150,000 CHL holders in Virginia and we are quickly becoming a political force to be reckoned with. While I disagree in principle about about open carry in most instances, it IS a right guaranteed under the 2A and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. I strongly disagree with my fellow QP's that open carry in a state that does not expressly PROHIBIT it, such as NC, will automatically result in an arrest. Open carry in and of itself is NOT a crime and does not automatically warrant a "Terry Stop". (See Terry v. Ohio). A good example of a recent illegal Terry stop and subsequent ILLEGAL ARREST in Virginia can be found here: Szymecki v. The City of Norfolk http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum54/9374.html Mr. Szymecki and his wife are soon to be $350,000 richer and the arresting Deputy is sure to get fired or at least, severely spanked. I WILL NOT leave my $1,300.00 Springfield .45 in the glove compartment of my rag-top Jeep to be stolen and used in a street-crime! if asked to leave an eatery, I will gladly do so, but in the past months, I've never been asked to do so. I have been asked about my weapon by management in the past and I simply tell them that I have a CHL, but in order to comply with state law, I am open carrying and that I, as a responsible citizen, have a moral duty to ensure that my weapon is not stolen to be used in a crime. It is also my duty as a citizen of the US and the Commonwealth of Virginia to support other citizens that are exersizing their rights under the 2A and the Virginia Constitution even if I don't think it is the most "prudent" thing to do. Unfortunately in Virginia, Open Carry under these circumstances is the ONLY thing to do. 226 __________________ Bitka Sve Rešava!
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