Good news! If you are a mugger, robber or rapist that works in the Commonwealth of Virginia, your job has just been made safer. The Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, with the help of his Attorney General, Mark R. “Red” Herring , signed an executive order rescinding recognition of most out-of-state concealed handgun permits (CHP).
What this means is if you target out-of-state visitors when you are mugging or robbing, you are pretty much guaranteed they will be unarmed. Virginia has suspended recognition of concealed handgun permits issued by 24 States and never had reciprocity with 20 others. The only State permits Virginia will recognize are West Virginia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, so be careful to avoid visitors from these States. They might be armed.
Out-of-state targets are easy to find. Hang out in known tourist areas and check out license plates. Avoid attacking people with Virginia license plates or the other five out-of-state that Virginia recognizes their CHP. Any other out-of-state license plate you see is fair game and a safe target.
But there are three things you need to be aware of:
- Many rental car companies license their cars in other States so you could find a situation where a Virginia resident with a Virginia CHP is driving a rental car with an out-of-state plate. This could be bad news for you.
- An intended victim may have moved to Virginia and obtained a legal Virginia CHP, but has not re-registered their vehicle in Virginia. This too could be bad news for you. If you come across this situation, report them to the authorities. New Virginia residents have 30 days to register their vehicle in Virginia. If they don’t they’re breaking the law.
- An intended victim may be from one of the States whose CHP is not recognized by Virginia, but has chosen to carry a concealed weapon anyway. Immediately report these individuals to the nearest law enforcement officer. We can’t have people breaking the law, unless they do it for a living.
But the chance of an out-of-state CHP holder breaking the law is slim. Studies by Crime Prevention Research Center have shown that CHP holders are more law-abiding that your average citizen and even your average police officer.
From the study:
“During over two decades, from October 1, 1987 to May 31, 2014, Florida has issued permits to more than 2.64 million people, with the average person holding a permit for more than a decade. Few — 168 (about 0.006%) — have had their permits revoked for any type of firearms related violation, the most common being accidentally carrying a concealed handgun into a gun-free zone such as a school or an airport, not threats or acts of violence. It is an annual rate of 0.0002 percent.”
And:
“The police data on total annual offenses also provide a direct comparison for Florida and Texas. The rate of all crimes committed by police is 0.124 percent – a number about 6 times higher than the rate for Texas and about 10 times higher than for Florida.”
Read the report: Report from the Crime Prevention Research Center
Since CHP holders are so law-abiding, out-of-state CHP holders will follow the Virginia laws and disarm themselves so you can go about your business in complete safety. Thank you Governor McAuliffe.
P.S. – I won’t be visiting Virginia any time soon.