Why would it be neccessary to lawfully carry handguns, either concealed with a concealed handgun permit or openly, in a state forest? There is no need considering the only dangers in the woods are certain animals and those carrying handguns. Handguns are not needed for hunting of animals. The employees of the DOF do not carry weapons as there is not a need at this time. I feel that if guns are allowed in state forest by citizens than all employees that enter state forest should be required to carry a handgun to defend themselves if the need arises. Why would there be a need to carry a handgun in the state forest unless you have ill intentions? Have there been so many unpublized attacks in our state forests to require a gun?   As a citizen I feel safe walking in the woods of the park system and state forest land however I would not feel safe if anyone was allowed to carry a firearm.  If I am not mistaken citizen handguns are not allowed in most government building therefore there should not be an exception to allow it on the commonwealth's land.

I feel that I have a RIGHT to enjoy the woods without the fear of walking upon someone carrying a handgun. I have a RIGHT to except my safety be a priority to those in charge of our state and federal land. If I passed someone carrying a rifile I would assume they are hunting however if I passed someone with a handgun I would fear for my safety. I do not agree with the The Virginia Citizens Defense League asking this of the Commonwealth. The purpose of this group isn't for the betterment of our communities but for their selfess need to carry a handgun everywhere. As posted on their website it is proudly stated: "Virginia Citizens Defense League . . . is on a mission to root out every nugget of gun control it can detect in Virginia. It has been behind campaigns to make sure concealed weapons are allowed in local government buildings, even civic centers, and fought to open up state and local parks to concealed weapons."
The Daily Press - Nov 27, 2006

This concept is absurd. The laws are designed to protect the population as a whole and not the need to statisfy a few individual who feel the need to carry a gun everywhere. There is a youtube video stating they are the good guys and here to protect those that can't protect themselves, but how am I suppose to know who the "good guys" are out in the middle of the woods. I would not feel "protected". I am for the right for people to bare arms but not in government buildings, government institutions, government land or in my home. For the record we have guns in our home and if I need to protect myself on my private property then I will do so.  

Please keep your employees and the people who enjoy the outdoors safe by not allowing anyone to carry guns except those that are considered law enforcement.

State (and National) Forests are not safe places.  Between the drug growers and the other seedy characters that use the public lands for their illegal activities... the average family can easily find themselves stumbling into a serious confrontation not far from the beaten path.  Ask any Forest Ranger about the variety of visitors to these lands.   Bless these guys for they are extremely understaffed.

Those that carry handguns do so one of two ways... "illegally" (the type you don't want to run into)... and "legally", especially those with Concealed Handguns Permits that have been subjected to background checks, training and verified to never have committed a felony.

To the postings against this proposal... Consider the ratio of criminal to law-abiding handguns there today.  There is a word for those who meet the ONLY handguns taken into the forest today.    Victim.

Forest lands within the Virginia (or any state) should be aligned with the laws throughout the state.  We are the good guys here!!   We just want consistency and the recognition of our rights.   Our presence makes you safer (Yes... many of us will defend YOU "the unarmed" as well)... we've proven it overwhelmingly everywhere it is tried.  That's evident in more and more states passing CHP laws.

This "Gun Free Crime Zone".... as it exists today... serves only the bad guys who ignore the law and carry firearms anyway.

We all have the right to carry or not to carry. The issue for those of us that make the choice to carry a concealed weapon is the endless amount of rules which have been in place by so many businesses, private and public parks, Governments, State, and Local, authorities, that if I wish to travel in this state I as a free person should be able to do that in a free society, I can not go to the peaks of otter to have lunch because I am on federal land and am not allowed to carry a weapon. If a person has been approved for the purpose of carrying a concealed weapon, the general public should not be concerned because they won’t know that there is a gun present. The whole idea is to keep it concealed. .Most people have no clue when someone is near them with a gun, and that is how it should be. My behavior does not change because I am carrying a weapon, but from the sound of these comments it apparently changes some peoples view if they see you with one in the open. I personally do not like open carry for that same reason. Think about the two people that were killed in the National Park while at a camp site a few years back.

As President of the Virginia Citizens Defense League and its 4,000 member and 8,500 email alert subscribers, our members want their right to defend themselves in State Forests as the Petition describes.  Please change State Forest rules in accordance with the Petition!

I want my right to defend myself in State Forests as the Petition describes.  Please change State Forest rules in accordance with the Petition.

I want my  right to defend myself in State Forests as outlined in the Petition .  Please change State Forest rules in per the Petition!

Please act to enact the petition and allow citizens to carry arms for defensive use as they may in public areas of VIrginia. The right to defend one's self and one's friends and family does not end upon entering a special zone.

I should be able to protect myself and my family any where. There is just as much danger in the state forests as anywhere elese.

The good citizens of Virginia who wish to lawfully carry firearms are not a danger to anyone.  Please enact this petition.  The current law only disarms law abiding citizens, criminals will not obey a law to go unarmed.

Private citizens should legally be allowed to carry handguns openly or concealed in State Parks. 

This will document my support of the Petition in the stongest possible way. Uniform Second Amendment rights should be expected here in our beautiful Commonwealth and forces of ignorance acting to restrict rights shold be ignored and defeated.

This is viatal for the safety of all. Persons with CWP are responsible and trained in the safe use of firearms. It is time, now.

Please approve this petition, we need to be safe out there.  Thanks!

Please allow the lawful carry of firearms in State Forests.  I do not want to be defenseless to those that do not obey the law.  Criminals are criminals because they do not obey the law.  I can guarantee they carry in State Forests regardless of the law.

Please enact the petition for carry in state forests.

In this nation we need to, in this time of upheaval of democratic ideals, return to the foundation of our constitution. One way we need to do this is to strengthen laws that make it clear that the second ammendment secures an individual's right to carry a handgun for their own defense; be it in a state park or out of a state park.

I am asking you to enact the petition.  Self Defense is a basic right.

Since VA state law allows open/concealed carry in most public places, our state forests should be no different.  In fact, when out camping or hiking, an extra measure of protection makes more sense than prevention.  Since criminals will carry weopans illegally, at least allow us trained and authorized law-abiding citizens the ability without making a choice between law-breaking and protection.

Sincerely,

Steven E. Sprague

The bad guys are going to have weapons regardless of the law.  Please do not disarm law-abiding citizens.  Do not take away our right to defend ourselves.

I am a Va. resident and strongly suppor this petition. Thank you for reading this. Waldo

This is viatal for the safety of all. Persons with CWP are responsible and trained in the safe use of firearms. It is time, now.

There is NO reason for this petition to go forward.

Permit holders have passed a thorough background check. They are trained in how and when to use firearms. There is no reason to prevent them from carrying in State Forests. Statistics show overwhelmingly that permit holders do not commit crimes, and that the crime rate drops dramatically in areas where people are allowed to carry. If criminals don't know whether or not a potential victim is armed, they are far less likely to cause a problem. If a problem develops, the permit holder has been trained in how to handle it. They are a resource that the State should welcome.

The forests are like the rest fo the country these days. There are no safe places left. We should be allowed to protect ourselves no matter where we go.

The God-given right to Self Defense is fundamental to Life, Liberty and Freedom.  The best and most effective method of this is through the "un-infringed" use of firearms.  Free the Citizens to protect themselves, their families, and their property no matter where they go in the State!

As the Supreme Court has recently (belatedly) recognized, the right to keep AND BEAR arms is a fundamental human right, as the natural extension of the right to self defense.  No human government has the authority to abridge that right.  

Aside from the fundamental principles involved, an honest look at the pragmatic concerns shows that the history of gun control, as a means of crime control, is a dismal failure.   No restriction of arms by governments ever helped honest citizens.  It does not make them safer, rather, it empowers criminals, both of the governmental and private varieties.

I urge you to pass this rule, and dismantle this long-standing abridgment of human rights.  Do not cater to the cowardly and misinformed who think that guns are inherently evil.

I support the right to defend myself in State Forests as the Petition describes.  Please change State Forest rules in accordance with the Petition!

Approve the provision, there is no responsible reason that qualified individuals should not be allowed to carry.  They have proved time and again that the government can't be everywhere to protect the individual citizen at all times.  As a law abiding adult I have according to the US constituation a god given right to protect myself.  Let me do so.

Please enact the petition to allow the lawful carry of firearms in state forests

As a law abiding gun owner and lifelong Virginia resident, I urge you to allow lawfully armed citizens to carry firearms concealed or openly as currently defined by state law. Law abiding gun owners have gone though rigorous background checks and training to secure their right to carry a firearm  for protection and as their basic constitutional right. Criminals ignore the law and will carry weapons no matter what rules or restrictions are enacted. Preventing lawful citizens being able to protect themselves and their families from the criminal element in state parks is wrong. Please support the hundreds of thousands  of Virginia gun owners and allow us to lawfully carry in state parks. Thank you.

All Virginian should have the option to protect themselfs in state park as stated in the petition.

I want my right to defend myself in State Forests as outlined in the Petition .  Please change State Forest rules in per the Petition!

As free men residing in a free state, we should have the right to defend ourselves and our families whereever we are, including state and national forests and parks.  Gun ownership is the right of all responsible adults who are law abiding citizens.

Yes.  The State of Virginia trusts me to carry throughout the State so why should this be any different.   Every lawful person should have the ability to defend their family no matter where they are .  20,000 gun laws in the US have yet to stop the bad people from harming the innocents and there is no Police Officer assigned to my family to protect me so please let me have the option to protect myself and most importantly my family.

It has been demonstrated time and time again that regulations forbidding the lawful carry of weapons do absolutely nothing to prevent crime.  Criminals by definition do not obey these regulations, leaving law abiding citizens at their mercy. What purpose is there in disarming lawful citizens in the presence of predators? I urge you to enact this petiton and allow lawful carry of weapons in state forests. Common sense dictates no less.

Make forests no different with respect to the law

When/where guns are outlawed only outlaws with have guns.

The bad guys will carry where ever and when ever they want because they are criminals and don't care what the law says.

Don't leave us defenseless!

SUPPORT the petition!

As a resident of D.C., I understand the importance (believe me) of concealed carry as I am a law enforcement officer.  The rights of concealed carry should be extended to Virginia State Parks and nearly anywhere else in the state of Virginia.  The right to self-preservation is a basic right and a park boundary line should not preclude you from exercising that right.  Too bad the poor citizens of D.C. don't have this right!

Greg

I ask that you allow the lawful carry of firearms in state forests.  I am a citizen who believes in the rule of law and do want want to be prevented from protecting myself should the need ever arise. Criminals are criminals because they do care about the law.  They will carry in state forests regardless of the law, not supporting it only hurts people like me. I'm sure the point of the law is not to make it easier for criminals to do what they wish.

It is my opinion that every law-abiding citizen should be afforded the option to carry a firearm in State Forests as an extention of the Second Amendment.  To protect oneself is an institution long held by our founding fathers and one that should be excercised in these modern times.  Again I support lawful carry of firearms in state forests. 

I see no reason that state forest regulations shouldn't be  the same as the Virginia  state laws as for carrying weapons. In fact, denying the carrying of firearms in the state forests would seem a violation of the Virginia constitution.

Anthony Wilbur, Col. USAF, Ret

Spotsylvania

The petition only asks that the rights of Virginia Citizens be protected.  Bad people intent on doing harm will not obey the current rule, only law abiding citizen's obey it.  The Commonwealth is not obligated to defend the individual in a State Forest.  The current rule severely limits the ability of the individual to defend themselves.

The current gun free zone could also be called a victim disarmament zone.  We know the budget is not going to increase to put significantly more armed law enforsement in the forests. End the prohibition.  Let citizens defend themselves when needed. 

When and where a loosening of gun control is enacted in this nation we have seen significant decreases in the level of violent crime.  Permitting citizens to arm themselves reduces crime.

I support the right to defend myself in State Forests as the Petition describes.  Please change State Forest rules in accordance with the Petition!

Permit holders have passed a background check. They are usually educated on how and when to use firearms. There is no reason to prevent them from carrying in State Forests. Statistics show overwhelmingly that permit holders do not commit crimes, and that the crime rate drops dramatically in areas where people are allowed to carry. If criminals don't know when a potential victim is armed, they are far less likely to try anything.

Why would we not be allowed to carry in a forest?  To assume anyone with a weapon is a poacher is ridiculous.

It is legal in Virginia to carry open in most public places and to also carry concealed, with a permit.  To my knowledge, there has been NO problems with this policy. There should be no difference in this policy in regards to State Forests.