The second amendment guarantees all citizens the right to protect themselves from harm.  The facts are that there are dangers in any national forest from animals or other humans.  It is my opinion as a carry permit holder from another state with reciprocity to Virginia that I deserve the same peace of mind as anyone else in our national forests knowing that I have the ability to defend myself if need be.  Some people like "Carey" who posted earlier believe that they have a right not to run into someone with a gun while on a hike...this is the exact reason we need to be allowed to have firearms.  If I meet someone on a hike who intends to do harm and is already a criminal by having a firearm in the national forest, the only thing the restrictions have done is to disarm me, a law abiding citizen, and force me to be at the will of a criminal.  This is unnacceptable to me.

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

-Benjamin Franklin