Got my CHL today! It was a nice surprise in the mail, as I had forgotten all about it (just like rebates). I know the laws associated with having a CHL (no carrying in restaurants that serve liquor, etc), but am looking for some real-world advice.

    For example, is it okay to carry in the Tyson's Corner Mall and the AMC Theatres there? And if I wanted to go to a restaurant there (saw the brewery), would anybody freak out if I just lifted my shirt and tucked it behind my pistol?

   Practical advice like that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

It came in the mail?!! Both my daughter & myself had to go to the courthouse & pick ours up.

Mike

you can carry in a restaurant that serves liquor, you just cant carry concealed. if in doubt concealed is concealed.

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Quoted: It came in the mail?!! Both my daughter & myself had to go to the courthouse & pick ours up. Mike

  Yup. When I went to the Alexandria police station to get fingerprinted, they refused to fingerprint me unless I had a stamped self-addressed envelope. Considering that the application fee was $50, you'd figure that they wouldn't sweat the 41 cents.

Fairfax County mails them out in an SASE you are required to supply.

Tysons Mall (and therefore everything in it--AMC, food joints, etc...) is no go---it's posted and been beat to death here in the past---of course if you're carrying concealed nobody will know---open carry is definitely NOT ok...

Quoted:         Practical advice like that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I can also tell you from first hand experience that Dulles Towne Centre is a no go on open carry as well. I had a run in there last year.

Quoted: Fairfax County mails them out in an SASE you are required to supply.

Same for Prince William.

Quoted: I know the laws associated with having a CHL (no carrying in restaurants that serve liquor, etc), but am looking for some real-world advice.

1. I am neither a police officer (the person that would arrest you for suspicion of breaking a law), nor am I a judge or lawyer.

2. You cannot carry in locations clearly specified by state or federal law.  (If you get friendly advice from someone else on what the law is, I suggest you personally verify it. Many people are wrong.)

3. Don't carry where it's explicitly posted by the property owner.

4. If it's not in the law and not posted, carry.   DON'T saunter in, ask for the owner, and "beg permission from the king" to exercise your right to self-protection. In the vast majority of cases where people have relayed to me that a place was "no carry", it was because the person made an overt effort to find someone in authority and ask.  Why ask?  If it's not posted, it's not a problem.  If I don't see a sign posted, I don't typically ask the manager if my wife is allowed in the store.

5. Specific questions, post here.  The VA crew is a great group and most very knowledgeable.  Just remember #1 and 2.

Ed

Concealed means concealed.



_MaH