The need for personal protection certainly does not end when you enter a state forest. Everyone knows that you cannot predict when or where a crime will happen. The best way to deal with such an unpredictable situation, is to always be prepared. Some may suggest that if an incident occurs, to simply pick up your cell phone, which probably will not recieve a signal in most rural state forest areas, and call the police, which probably will not be able to reach you in time to respond to your emergency. For those reasons, I find that it is a responsible citizens duty to protect themselves and their families, whenever the government may decide that we are worth being given permission to do so. Please allow me to protect my own life while enjoying Virginia state forests.