CCW Requirements in VA

[patmcf79]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to this forum and have been lurking around soaking up a lot of great info from this site. First some back ground info on me... I have taken a hunter/firearm safety course when I was younger and up until a year ago I use to actively hunt on the eastern shore (15 years). I still get out a few weekends and shoot sporting clays at a local range. I grew up with firearms and have the up most respect for them, and as well as other good standing citizens with or without firearms. I've never looked into concealed carry before because I've never realize or had a need to. I recently almost got mugged while mountain biking and it made me think long and hard about who's looking out for me. I'm not knocking the police but it took them 20mins to arrive on site. By this time the would be mugger could have, at worse, taken my life. Luckily I'm not small and the mugger must of realized he may have a hands full when getting hit with a 20lbs mountain bike. Anyway my question is this... Is a hunter/firearm safety course adequate enough to obtain a CCW? From what I can tell a certificate from said course is. Confirmation on this would be great as I do not want to go to the court house just to get turned away because I had not taken a proper course. Thanks in advance and keep up the great site.

:wavey:

Pat

[patmcf79]

Also... as you can see above I ride a mountain bike. I got turned onto this site because a friend recommended a glock 26 as a concealed carry while I'm biking since I tend to bike in remote areas. My .357 is a little two big and heavy and I am looking for something more compact and light I can stuff in my Camelbak. Any recommendations would be great on a light, rugged, and compact firearm.

Pat

[GSD/G23]

In VA you have to tak an NRA approved course, I'm not sure if Hunter Safety counts but I doubt it. There are plenty of courses around VA that are good and very reasonable. I suggest you take one weather the states CC permit recognizes your HS course or not.

Concerning the G26 for CC, it's a great choice. They are accurate, reliable and tough, all the things you want in a defensive pistol. I personally carry the G27 for the caliber advantage, it's basically the same pistol as the G26 only in .40S&W. The new XD subcompacts are very good as well.

[patmcf79]

[QUOTE=GSD/G23;9633707]In VA you have to tak an NRA approved course, I'm not sure if Hunter Safety counts but I doubt it.QUOTE]

Sorry, I should have clarified. It was a course sponsored by the Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries. Certificates are signed by a game warden. One would think a state sponsored course be valid at the state courts. From reading the criteria off of the VSP website it looks like it is valid. There also seems to be some wiggle room for the courts to base an opinion on why they may not issue. Thanks again... I'm just trying to make this go as smooth as possible. I had an uncle in MD that cursed and swore at MD's gun rights and at how hard (impossible) it was to get a CCW. I am just wondering if I should prepare for the worst since I've never applied before.

Thanks for the info on the glock 26. I just got done looking at holster options... passive101 has some great videos and recommendations on youtube. Some of the holsters look like they would work well while biking on the trails or while walking the dog around the neighborhood

[alien-Glocker]

You hunter safety course is fine, as long as you still have you original certificate. You will have to provide a copy as part of you CHP application.

From the Virginia State Police website:

The court shall require proof that the applicant has demonstrated competence with a handgun and the applicant may demonstrate such competence by one of the following, but no applicant shall be required to submit to any additional demonstration of competence:

Completing any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or a similar agency of another state;

The site list other means to demonstrated competence, i.e. NRA course...

Link: http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms_ResidentConcealed.shtm

[patmcf79]

All,

While researching CCW I wanted to find out about which states would honor a VA CCW. I came across this little helper from the NRA.

http://www.nraila.org/recmap/usrecmap.aspx

[finz50]

In VA you can get your CCW with proof of your hunters ed course....when my buddy told me that I thought he was full of crap, but he was right. I personnally think if you carry concealed, it's worth paying the $55 or so and take the course. If nothing else you learn the specific laws regarding your state.

[vafish]

In VA you can get your CCW with proof of your hunters ed course....when my buddy told me that I thought he was full of crap, but he was right. I personnally think if you carry concealed, it's worth paying the $55 or so and take the course. If nothing else you learn the specific laws regarding your state.

I agree,

You can use your Hunter Safety Certificate, it meets the MINIMUM requirements that the law has set.

But it in no way prepares you for carrying a concealed firearm.