Please enact the proposed amendment to 4VAC10-30-170, which allows for the otherwise lawful carry of firearms and ammunition in state forests!  This amendment brings state forests into alignment with state parks, national parks, and national forests.

I had an experience a few years ago where that made me wish I had been allowed to carry my concealed handgun.  Myself and some friends were camping in a state park and during the early morning hours while we were sleeping, a pickup truck came by our site and menacingly directed its headlights at us.  The truck parked there watching us, with the drive smoking a cigarette in the cab for nearly 10 minutes.  The truck left and then returned again 20 minutes later and again parked the truck with engine running and headlights trained on our site.  By now, a number of our group were awake but we were defenseless if this person had decided to carry out any further assault.  We had no cell phone reception to call for assistance.  While that was the only negative experience I have had over numerous trips to state parks and national forests, it only takes once to become a victim.  Had I been allowed to carry my handgun, for which I hold a Virginia permit to carry concealed, I would have felt more confident that I could have helped defend myself and my friends if this person decided to attack us.  It is our right to bear arms for self-defense and it is utterly impossible to solely rely on Park Rangers or other law enforcement officers to protect us anywhere, but especially in more remote parts of our beautiful state.  Responsible citizens should be permitted to defend themselves, and legal carry of firearms is the only realistic method to do so.