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I was simply trying to refute your assertion that open carry will automatically get you handcuffed and hauled off to jail in Virginia. I was not trying to describe where one can and cannot open carry in Virginia; if the thread had been "I'm going to Virginia, where can I open carry," I would have mentioned that it is cuurently not allowed in state parks.

I do not wish to get into another debate about open carry. I was simply pointing out that people in Virginia open carry every day without problem. Open carry is considered a right in many places and, like any right, could go away if not exercised.

I realize that you come from a state where carrying a gun is something shameful and needs to be hidden, as is the case in Texas as well, but that is not the case in every state. I see it as a way, where legal, to educate people that ordinary, law-abiding citizens carry firearms in the course of their daily lives and no problems occur.

And your insinuation that I am trying to "play cowboy" by exercising my right to open carry when it is legal is quite frankly insulting. It sounds like the rhetoric the anti-gun forces use when describing CHL holders as "Rambo" or wanting to play hero.

I do use a retention holster when open carrying, and I find that it forces me to be more alert. However, I have never seen any evidence (not speculation) that open carry will make an ordinary person a target of a gun grab or the first person shot in a robbery.

To 1TallTXn, sorry for continuing the hijack of your thread.

frankie_the_yankee wrote:

tomc wrote: In Virginia, if you go into any place that serves alchohol, you cannot carry concealed, but you can open carry.

I would strongly recommend that you do not do this unless you really enjoy having discussions with cops while handcuffed.

ENJOY THE BIKE TRIP!!!!!

I would strongly recommend you visit Opencarry.org, and the forum in particular before you start spouting off about open carry, especially in Virginia. It is very well known among Virginia law enforcement that open carry is legal, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Virginia Citizen's Defense League.

I grew up in Virginia, and I open carry some of the time when I am back there. I have openly carried in a number of restaurants there rather than go unarmed and leave my gun in the car where it would be vulnerable to theft (and would be much more vulnerable if I were riding a motorcycle as 1TallTXn is doing).

Contrary to the beliefs of many people on this forum, open carry does not cause people to faint at the sight of your gun. At least in Virginia, the police getting called because of open carry is rare, the occasional call is usually well- handled, and when the police do not handle it well they are hounded by the VCDL and other groups until they better train their officers on the legality of open carry. I have never heard of someone in Virginia being handcuffed for open carry.