Virginia CCW options
This is a discussion on Virginia CCW options within the Defensive Carry Holsters & Carry Options forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; Since in Virginia a concealed carrier has to open carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol, is your best option to always use a holster ...
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September 12th, 2008 09:32 PM
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Virginia CCW options
Since in Virginia a concealed carrier has to open carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol, is your best option to always use a holster since you can just expose it? I ask because in cold weather I would rather just carry in my jacket with a pocket holster. I can't think of a way to switch to open carry with the pocket holster though. Thanks...
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September 12th, 2008 09:32 PM
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September 12th, 2008 09:43 PM
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Just get a cheap paddle holster or something and keep it in the car.
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September 12th, 2008 09:43 PM
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perhaps keep an OWB holster in the car that can easily clip to your belt when you know you are going into a place like that.
"An armed society is a polite society" - Robert A. Heinlein
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September 12th, 2008 11:43 PM
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Originally Posted by
mourneblade
Since in Virginia a concealed carrier has to open carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol, is your best option to always use a holster since you can just expose it? I ask because in cold weather I would rather just carry in my jacket with a pocket holster. I can't think of a way to switch to open carry with the pocket holster though. Thanks...
Just stick into the top of of your pants so it shows. Between pants and body. Side or front.
- OS
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September 13th, 2008 11:20 AM
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If I know that I'm going to such a restaurant and that I am not going to drink, I use my Galco Side Snap Scabbard from the get go.
That way I just take off the cover garment and am good to go.
If it is a last minute decision to go to the restaurant, I use the Galco paddle I keep in the car.
If I plan on drinking, the gun stays home. Needless to say, I don't drink much away from the house.
fortiter in re, suaviter in modo (resolutely in action, gently in manner).
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September 13th, 2008 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by
PaulG
If I know that I'm going to such a restaurant and that I am not going to drink, I use my Galco Side Snap Scabbard from the get go.
That way I just take off the cover garment and am good to go.
If it is a last minute decision to go to the restaurant, I use the Galco paddle I keep in the car.
If I plan on drinking, the gun stays home. Needless to say, I don't drink much away from the house.
+100 
Also if it were me, I'd just remove it before entering. Here in FL you can't even carry it into a place that sells alcohol to be consumed on the property afaik.
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September 13th, 2008 02:08 PM
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I wasn't thinking so much about drinking as much as going to a restaurant and then a movie. The other day we went to a movie that finished pretty late, I was surprised to get sized up by several young guys hanging around the exit as my wife and I were leaving the theater to go to our car. That got me thinking that this might be a case for concealed carry in the future. I'm not a small guy, but you never know when someone is gonna take a chance on you.
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September 13th, 2008 02:44 PM
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I will be traveling to VA in a few weeks, and the only difference from MI law that will affect me is the OC in a restaurant that sells liquor. So if I have either a IWB or OWB and just pull my cover garmet behind the handle, so it's visible, is that considered open?
Better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.

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September 13th, 2008 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by
Jackle1886
I will be traveling to VA in a few weeks, and the only difference from MI law that will affect me is the OC in a restaurant that sells liquor. So if I have either a IWB or OWB and just pull my cover garmet behind the handle, so it's visible, is that considered open?
Yes.
As long as at least grip is visible (in "open", not just "printing"), you are open carrying.
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September 13th, 2008 06:27 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by
Jackle1886
I will be traveling to VA in a few weeks, and the only difference from MI law that will affect me is the OC in a restaurant that sells liquor. So if I have either a IWB or OWB and just pull my cover garmet behind the handle, so it's visible, is that considered open?
For re-emphasis: Yes. Also known as the "Virginia tuck"...and is how I carried for about a year until I got a Blackhawk SERPA
Magazine <>
clip - know the difference
martyr is a fancy name for
crappy fighter
You have never lived until you have almost died. For those that have fought for it, life has a special flavor the protected will never know
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October 13th, 2008 06:10 PM
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No offense to the previous two posters, but (big but) I live in Va. and I have seen no language in the code of Va. nor have I ever heard of this meeting the OC requirement. I do intend to research this and find out as it would make me more likely to stop leaving my gun in the car when I go into one of these places. Bottom line:
I wouldn't risk jail time based on these two answers. I would not even rely on a "policeman's" answer to this question. See it in writing, or get an attorney's opinion (in writing). Otherwise, carry it fully in the open.
Just read up on all those Norfolk cops who haven't apparently ever heard that open carry is LEGAL in Va.
On edit:
Check out this link. In writing, yes. Legal opinion, no.
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/view_to...+carry+defined
The so-called Virginia Tuck is a matter of: Do you feel lucky?
If I can find a Code of Va. definition of Open Carry, I'll post. Thanks.
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October 14th, 2008 08:27 AM
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Good luck with that, there's little to no legislation on the open carrying of firearms.
VA Code 18.2.308 states the following:
For the purpose of this section, a weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.
Also,
§ 18.2-287.4. Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
Does not cover the open carry of handguns.
There is no legislation limiting solely the open carry of handguns, nor is there legislation stating what is and what is not open carry. Open carry is legal as long as firearms are permitted in which ever place you are happening to carry.
The text of 18.2.380 also states the following:
No person shall carry a
concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant or club as defined in § 4.1-100 for which a license to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption has been granted by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board under Title 4.1 of the Code of Virginia; however, nothing herein shall prohibit any sworn law-enforcement officer from carrying a concealed handgun on the premises of such restaurant or club or any owner or event sponsor or his employees from carrying a concealed handgun while on duty at such restaurant or club if such person has a concealed handgun permit.
So if concealed means: hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.
I don't think the VA tuck is a no-go.
Is it ideal? Probably not as it is up to interpenetration, however as you stated:
Norfolk cops who haven't apparently ever heard that open carry is LEGAL in Va.
If the LEOS don't know what's legal and what's not legal, whether or not you have a tucked IWB , or an OWB, won't matter as they will detain you either way.
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October 14th, 2008 10:47 PM
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Agreed. The thing with VA law is that it doesn't spell out what you can do. It only spells out what you are NOT ALLOWED to do. So it isn't going to specify a specific method for open carrying. All the opinions we've received thus far from various agencies is that as long as it is readily distinguishable as a firearm it is considered open.
I've been carrying via the "Virginia Tuck" method in various restaurants for going on 8 years now and never had a problem during that time. On numerous occassions that was either within the vicinity of LEO's that DID notice I was carrying and made no mention, or I was actually dining with local LEO's who made no mention. Take it for what it's worth. I carry IWB and just do the VA Tuck upon entrance to such places. This has been my method statewide and particularly up and down the Route 7 Corridor from Vienna/Tysons/Falls Church all the way out to Winchester daily.
"My God David, We're a Civilized society."
"Sure, As long as the machines are workin' and you can call 911. But you take those things away, you throw people in the dark, and you scare the **** out of them; no more rules...You'll see how primitive they can get."
-The Mist (2007)
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October 14th, 2008 11:05 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by
packinnova
Agreed. The thing with VA law is that it doesn't spell out what you can do. It only spells out what you are NOT ALLOWED to do.
That is how laws usually work. It is kind of sad that they actually have to spell out what you CAN do when it comes to firearms to prevent localities from going crazy with enforcement.
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October 15th, 2008 12:07 AM
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The VCDL(Virginia Citizens Defense League) Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL)
Has staged an event where everyone open carries into a restaurant they are pretty +Open Carry.
I'm not sure what I would do in this type of situation, open carry is fine if I'm with people who know I carry, but what about friends whom don't need to know I carry at all?
Kinda breaks some of the cardinal rules of not telling everyone you carry.
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