Posted on 04/30/2012 6:46:52 AM PDT by marktwain
In an announcement posted today in Virginia's Regulatory Town Hall, the Virginia Department of Conservation served notice to the public that the "[r]epeal of § 4VAC5-30-200 [which] prohibits the open carry of firearms in Virginia State Parks" will be published as a final rule on May 7th in Volume 28 Issue 18 of the Virginia Register of regulations. The usual practice of the Virginia Registrar is to make such final rules effective 60 days after publication in the Register.
This action by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's administration is the final chapter in a decade long regulatory fight to legalize gun carry in Virginia State Parks that spanned three state Governors and three Attorneys General. The legal journey began in 2002 by way of a Virginia Attorney General Opinion requested by then Delegate, and now Senator Dick Black (R - Leesburg).
The Department of Conservation memorializes this journey in its final rule announcement in great detail:
Section 4VAC5-30-200 is part of the Virginia Administrative Code (VAC) and has been part of the VAC or Department regulations since at least 1965 and likely since the State Park System was created in 1936. This regulation originally prohibited all carrying of firearms by anyone other than police officers, other employees of the Department, or those engaged in approved hunting activities, but was amended in 2002 to permit the carrying of concealed handguns by those in possession of a valid concealed handgun permit. In response to a September 9, 2002 opinion from Attorney General Kilgore (Opinion 02-074) to Delegate Richard H. Black that found that the Department of Conservation and Recreation exceeded its statutory authority in prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns by holders of valid permits, Governor Warner by letter on September 23, 2002 instructed the Department to amend the regulation in accordance
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Can I still talk, write, worship and associate as I see fit in these parks, or do I need to attend a special class and get a permit?
You can do anything you are TOLD to do, peasant! Now kiss the king’s ring and beg for mercy!;)
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