Posted: 2/6/2012 9:08:10 AM EDT
| Despite years of gun ownership and marksmanship I have never sought a concealed weapons license. I have friends who have gotten the licensed simply based on their Hunter Safety course. Will this training still work? I have a Lifetime Hunting License and took the course years ago? I'm also well known with the NFA stuff. I'd rather not spend time/$ on a course when safety & proficiency are a moot point for me. What "training" has worked for you? P.S. my mil records are largerly lost and I'm tired of asking, short of a DD214 I'm not inclined to aggrevate myself with any mil exemption. |
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In short, yes a hunter safety course still works.
Straight from the Va code: 18.2-308 G. 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, nor shall any proof of demonstrated competence expire: 1. Completing any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or a similar agency of another state; 2. Completing any National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course; 3. Completing any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law-enforcement agency, junior college, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Criminal Justice Services; 4. Completing any law-enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement; 5. Presenting evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or current military service or proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services; 6. Obtaining or previously having held a license to carry a firearm in the Commonwealth or a locality thereof, unless such license has been revoked for cause; 7. Completing any firearms training or safety course or class, including an electronic, video, or on-line course, conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association-certified firearms instructor; 8. Completing any governmental police agency firearms training course and qualifying to carry a firearm in the course of normal police duties; or 9. Completing any other firearms training which the court deems adequate. A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the courses or classes; an affidavit from the instructor, school, club, organization, or group that conducted or taught such course or class attesting to the completion of the course or class by the applicant; or a copy of any document which shows completion of the course or class or evidences participation in firearms competition shall constitute evidence of qualification under this subsection. |
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Yes a hunter safety course will count. A consideration is that a good class will also go over some of the legal aspects as far as where it's legal to carry, and depending on the class, will have a lawyer give an outline of the case law if your involved in a self defense situation.
You can still get your CHL with your Hunter's safety class and take the additional class shortly after. |
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You have to have proof of your hunter safety training from years ago.
Barring that, if you have your DD214, you're good to go: "proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services" It almost looks like your hunting license may not do the trick as it's not a certificate of completion of an actual course. |
| I agree, I think most people can find the value in most of the CHL courses. I know lots of CHLs that really don't have much experience with firearms. Legal knowledge is also very important. Arfcom and the VCDL are great resources. I think I'll save my $ and consider a more advanced shooting class. I see a few classes advertised here that I will have to check into. FWIW, I have found Krav Maga to also be excellent training and psysche for neutralizing armed threats in those times when you don't have the luxury of drawing down. |
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I used the VDGIF / NRA Hunter Safety Course card and it worked in 1995 when I first applied. It was issued in 1984 when I was 12. Still got it and still use it as proof of hunter safety for when I go hunting in certain places that require it. Sometimes I'll get big eyes, because half the time the person looking at it wasn't even born yet. Just one more reminder that I'm getting old.
It's a very useful little card. 
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I'll be happy to help you with any CHP training that you need.
Jim www.ProactiveShooters.com |
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In short, yes a hunter safety course still works. Straight from the Va code: 18.2-308 G. 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, nor shall any proof of demonstrated competence expire: 5. Presenting evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or current military service or proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services; I've got a good friend who is retired from the British Army. I'm wondering if that qualifies under rule 5 (above). The statute doesn't say anything about an honorable discharge from the US armed services |
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In short, yes a hunter safety course still works. Straight from the Va code: 18.2-308 G. 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, nor shall any proof of demonstrated competence expire: 5. Presenting evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or current military service or proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services; I've got a good friend who is retired from the British Army. I'm wondering if that qualifies under rule 5 (above). The statute doesn't say anything about an honorable discharge from the US armed services Since Virginia is a USA state that might be a tough argument. |
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I recall a big stink about the Roanoke Times publishing local CHL permitees a few years back. What was the outcome? Can an employer look you up? Anyone have any pro/con matters from LEOs? Roanoke times quickly stopped doing that in response to complaints IIRC. I think there was legislation proposed just recently protecting CCW identities from FOIA. I don't know if it's still active. Once you get your permit and if you are ever pulled over, the officer will probably know you have a CHP when he runs your license plate or driver's license. At least around here they do. The officer from the small Town of LaCrosse on HWY 58 who pulled me over when I was doing 63 in a 50 on my motorcycle as I entered his town even knew I had a permit before he approached me.
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In short, yes a hunter safety course still works. Straight from the Va code: 18.2-308 G. 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, nor shall any proof of demonstrated competence expire: 5. Presenting evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or current military service or proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services; I've got a good friend who is retired from the British Army. I'm wondering if that qualifies under rule 5 (above). The statute doesn't say anything about an honorable discharge from the US armed services Since Virginia is a USA state that might be a tough argument. Why would that matter? The statute doesn't say U.S. armed forces, and in any event there is a catch-all that says "[c]ompleting any other firearms training which the court deems adequate." You might have some issues at the clerk level, but I'd bet most judges would consider service in a friendly country's military to be satisfactory. By the time you hassle it and get in front of a judge to explain why you know how to handle guns because you were in the British Army, though, it might just be easier to take a quickie class and get a piece of paper that satisfies the clerk's checklist. |
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FYI, I applied for my CHL at the beginning of January and received it two weeks later. What county? I just renewed in Fairfax and it was 44 days from when I dropped it off. Chesapeake. Other people I've talked to said it took the full 6 weeks so it could be a YMMV type deal. The guy who took my finger prints told me I should expect it in mid-February when I went. |
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In short, yes a hunter safety course still works. Straight from the Va code: 18.2-308 G. 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, nor shall any proof of demonstrated competence expire: 5. Presenting evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or current military service or proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services; I've got a good friend who is retired from the British Army. I'm wondering if that qualifies under rule 5 (above). The statute doesn't say anything about an honorable discharge from the US armed services Since Virginia is a USA state that might be a tough argument. Why would that matter? The statute doesn't say U.S. armed forces, and in any event there is a catch-all that says "[c]ompleting any other firearms training which the court deems adequate." You might have some issues at the clerk level, but I'd bet most judges would consider service in a friendly country's military to be satisfactory. By the time you hassle it and get in front of a judge to explain why you know how to handle guns because you were in the British Army, though, it might just be easier to take a quickie class and get a piece of paper that satisfies the clerk's checklist. If they accept firearms training from service in the US Navy, they damn sure better accept it from the British Army! 
Mainly they want proof of firearms safety training. The UK military idea would be fun to see how far it'd get. I'd support it. |