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carry a rifle or shotgun in the car?

stagarms01

New member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
2
hey everyone i just moved to manassas va and im not sure about carrying a rifle or a shotgun in the car with me i dont know if it can b loaded or it has to b unloaded if anyone can help me out that b great thanx
 

AdamC

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
12
Location
Brookneal, VA
Welcome to Virginia and the forums!

The summary is that, in Virginia, it's up to the individual localities if they want to make it illegal. If you have a reasonable belief that you need a loaded shotgun or rifle for your job, then you are excused from any local laws. You should contact the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/contact/) and ask, as I was unable to find anything online (in a quick search) for Manassas, specifically. Alternatively, you could just keep it unloaded as this should be fine anywhere in Virginia.

Virginia law (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-915.2) states:

§ 15.2-915.2. Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun.

The governing body of any county or city may by ordinance make it unlawful for any person to transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road, or highway within such locality. Any violation of such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100. Conservation police officers, sheriffs and all other law-enforcement officers shall enforce the provisions of this section. No ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall be enforceable unless the governing body adopting such ordinance so notifies the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries by registered mail prior to May 1 of the year in which such ordinance is to take effect.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to duly authorized law-enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, nor to any person who reasonably believes that a loaded rifle or shotgun is necessary for his personal safety in the course of his employment or business. (emphasis mine)​
 

vt800c

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
221
Location
Springfield,VA
hey everyone i just moved to manassas va and im not sure about carrying a rifle or a shotgun in the car with me i dont know if it can b loaded or it has to b unloaded if anyone can help me out that b great thanx

Dude, you need to have a vowel movement. As far as carrying in the car..personally I'd play it safe and have it locked in the trunk, unloaded and cased. They really aren't that good as a self-defense weapon, as they tend to be a bit....unyieldy.

Welcome to NoVA, by the way. just don't step in the leadership.
 

45acpForMe

Newbie
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
2,805
Location
Yorktown, Virginia, USA
Remember that if you aren't going to have it in the trunk that it can NOT be concealed. The Virginia CHP (concealed HANDGUN permit) does not cover long guns. So it would be illegal to throw a blanket or sweatshirt over it if it is within reach. I remember a few years back when someone had a shotgun tucked between the frame and a seat and was charged with concealing it.

I had thought a while ago about keeping a shotgun in the car but decided that a pistol on my hip is alot quicker to access than a shotgun. For self defense purposes, if you have time to go to your trunk and grab a shotgun you probably had time to drive to safety or call 911 so it could work against you in a court.

I am sure there are good uses for having one in the car like arriving home and seeing the front door kicked in but a pistol works too and it has more capacity usually.
 

Thundar

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
4,946
Location
Newport News, Virginia, USA
Remember that if you aren't going to have it in the trunk that it can NOT be concealed. The Virginia CHP (concealed HANDGUN permit) does not cover long guns. So it would be illegal to throw a blanket or sweatshirt over it if it is within reach. I remember a few years back when someone had a shotgun tucked between the frame and a seat and was charged with concealing it.

I had thought a while ago about keeping a shotgun in the car but decided that a pistol on my hip is alot quicker to access than a shotgun. For self defense purposes, if you have time to go to your trunk and grab a shotgun you probably had time to drive to safety or call 911 so it could work against you in a court.

I am sure there are good uses for having one in the car like arriving home and seeing the front door kicked in but a pistol works too and it has more capacity usually.

Also remember that if you are going to drop off kids at school, it must be in a rifle rack. (Yes, a rifle or shotgun in a rifle rack is lawful in a school parking lot or drop off area.)
 

gis

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
264
Location
Prince William County, Virginia, USA
hey everyone i just moved to manassas va and im not sure about carrying a rifle or a shotgun in the car with me i dont know if it can b loaded or it has to b unloaded if anyone can help me out that b great thanx

I keep an unloaded cased AK47 in the trunk along with all my other emergency supplies. I also have a bunch of loaded mags in a separate over the shoulder bugout bag. Granted I am probably not going to need it in most armed encounters, which themselves should be pretty rare. However, one never knows what life can bring tomorrow, so I believe that carrying a rifle and ammo is just as important as emergency medical supplies, water, fire extinguisher, etc.
 

mobeewan

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2007
Messages
652
Location
Hampton, Va, ,
Also be warned that there are regulations that do not allow transport of a loaded rifle or shotgun during the deer season. Check the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries web site under hunting regulations and individual city and county ordinances where you might be carrying during deer season.
 

simmonsjoe

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
1,661
Location
Mattaponi, Virginia, United States
Remember the restrictions of 15.2-915.2 are related to HUNTING. If it is a firearm for defense it is exempt. Understand a firearm loaded with a magazine over 20 rounds or shotgun with more than 7 in the tube requires a CHP in many VA cities.
 
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