Not true, rifles are treated like shotguns. You can even have a handgun ... provided you registered it before Feb. 5, 1977. Otherwise, not. You can't carry it though, and can't even transport it, or a long gun, unless it's unloaded, and trigger locked or disassembled. You also have to have proof you are going to or coming from some "legitimate" recreation activity. The same applies to nonresident, in spite of the terms of the federal Firearm Owners Protectio Act of which provides:
Notwithstanding any state or local law, a person shall be entitled to transport a firearm from any place where he may lawfully possess it to any other place where he may lawfully possess such firearm if the firearm is unloaded and in the trunk. In vehicles without a trunk, the unloaded firearm shall be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
I was just repeating what the police told me after the third time I was burglarized. I moved to Virginia.