I don't believe that any agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia has the legal authority or constitutional power to ban openly carried handguns and so I don't believe that your agency has the authority to ban them from open carry in Virginia's State Forests.  That opinion is supported by a published opinion issued by then Atty Gen. Bob McDonnell.

So while I support the rule change I also want the rule change to include lawful open carry as legal in all Virginia State Forests.