I fully support this change in regulations to allow carry of firearms in State Forests.  But I do believe it should include lawful OPEN carry of a firearm by any Virginia resident or visitor who is lawfully able to own and carry one.  Cell phone coverage can be unreliable in the Forests, law enforcement is spread very thin (and will get worse with budget cuts!), and response times for police are so long that they cannot be counted on to protect anyone.  Crime does occur in the Forests, and people have the right and the duty to protect themselves, especially in light of the fact that the polce have NO DUTY to protect an individual citizen (see Warren v. District of Columbia and other relevant cases for the proof).  Since the Commonwealth is unable to keep criminals, who carry illegally concealed firearms despite the law, out of the Forests, then the law-abiding should be allowed to defend themselves.