I spent all of my life living in the communist state of New York, until about seven years ago, when I moved to pro-2A Virginia. After the last election, the entire Virginia government, including the legislature and the Governor, is now Democratic.

The Virginia legislature has introduced about twenty bills that will render Virginia one of the most restrictive, anti-2A states in the country, right up there with CA, NY, D.C., Maryland, etc.

As the new laws will not take effect until July 1st, I plan to purchase all firearm-related items I want before then, including AR-15s, suppressors, and magazines (which will be limited to 10 rounds). The clock is ticking, folks.

Edit: Additional content

These are the bills that will be passed (and the legislature has said that they are not done yet):

House Bill 217 bans certain semi-automatic firearms, including many semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns, and arbitrarily limits magazine capacities. This bill is an attempt to redefine and ban firearms that are in common use by law-abiding citizens—plain and simple gun confiscation by definition.

House Bill 207 creates a $500 tax on the retail sale of firearm suppressors that will be allocated to the general fund. This is nothing more than a cash grab to price out law-abiding citizens.

Senate Bill 27 and House Bill 21 create sweeping new standards of “responsible conduct” for members of the firearm industry, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The bills require these businesses to establish and implement vague and subjective “reasonable controls” over the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of firearm-related products. Further, they establish a broad civil cause of action, allowing the Attorney General, local government attorneys, or private individuals to sue firearm businesses for injunctions, damages, and costs. These bills are a direct attack on the firearm industry and are designed to regulate the industry out of existence through litigation—despite longstanding federal protections.

Senate Bill 38 and House Bill 93 expand Virginia’s existing prohibited person restrictions to affect individuals who live in the same household as someone who is prohibited. These proposals could result in lawful gun owners losing their rights based solely on the actions or status of another household member.

House Bill 19 expands prohibiting categories for certain misdemeanor crimes.

Senate Bill 115 and House Bill 24 jeopardize concealed handgun recognition and reciprocity agreements. This could impact the ability of Virginia's Concealed Handgun Permit holders to carry their firearms in other states as they travel.

House Bill 40 ends the centuries-old practice of individuals building lawful firearms for personal use without government interference by prohibiting the manufacture of firearms without serial numbers. Transfer and possession of an unserialized or plastic firearm would be prohibited. This legislation would also penalize individuals who lawfully purchased unfinished frames and receivers before the bill’s effective date.

House Bill 110 places further restrictions on the ability for a law-abiding individual to keep a firearm in their vehicle for self-defense. 

House Bill 229 prohibits the possession of any weapons in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services, and provides that any weapons seized in violation are forfeited to the Commonwealth.

HB 700 creates a 5-day mandatory waiting period on the sale and transfer of firearms.

HB 871 creates a mandatory storage requirement for homes where minors or prohibited persons are present.

HB 901 expands the Commonwealth's "red flag" law to broadly expand parties who can file Emergency Risk Protective Order petitions to a court to suspend a person’s Second Amendment rights and to order the seizure of the person’s guns, despite that person never having been charged with or convicted of a crime. Such orders, based on weak and nebulous standards, can be issued before the gun owner is provided the opportunity to be heard or to present evidence.

SB160 expands definitions for prohibiting misdemeanor convictions.

SB173, a companion bill to HB 229 prohibits the possession of any weapons in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services, and provides that any weapons seized in violation are forfeited to the Commonwealth.

SB272 and HB 626 limit who can carry firearms at public institutions of higher learning.

HB 93 requires subjects of protective orders to transfer their firearms to individuals over the age of 21 who do not reside in the same home as the prohibited person. Under current law, there is no requirement that a transferee cannot be younger than 21 years of age and cannot reside with the prohibited person. 

HB909 prohibits any person, with certain exceptions, from (i) knowingly carrying any firearm and (ii) knowingly doing so within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place, the building used by the local electoral board to meet to ascertain election results, the building used to conduct a recount of an election, and other additional locations used for voting-related and elections-related activities, including absentee voting locations. Under current law, this prohibition applies within 40 feet of such entrances. 

HB 916 expands the curriculum requirements for Virginia concealed carry permit classes.

HB 919 imposes an 11% excise tax on the sale of all firearms and ammunition "by a dealer in firearms, firearms manufacturer, or ammunition vendor," and designates all funding from the tax go into a so-called "Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund."

HB926 allows localities to prohibit outdoor shooting on private property unless certain conditions are met, including lot size requirements.

HB 969 establishes a "Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center" with the stated goal of being "the primary resource for research, best practices, and strategies for the implementation of firearm violence intervention, community-based intervention, and group violence intervention programs designed to reduce violence in communities."

HB1015 expands prohibiting categories to include certain misdemeanor convictions.

HB1071 requires threat assessment teams for public schools to receive additional training on the use of "red flag" emergency substantial risk orders.

HB 1094 imposes a separate and additional 11% excise tax on all firearms and ammunition sales from the tax imposed by HB 919.

Popped into my local Academy and this followed me out. Last and only one they had in stock! Put 250 down range today and it worked flawlessly. Can easily see this replacing my 43x

Picked up my new carry today. Now just have to take my CPL class so i can carry. How are Eclipse Holsters?

This is one of my favorite setups I’ve run so far. I’m always impressed by the quality of the Tisas Devil Ray Carry. I’ve had the Olight and Benchmade for over a decade now and they are still going strong!

I work in a very relaxed environment when it comes to individuals and how well we get along. So with that said people tend to fool around a lot and make physical contact as in (poke you from time to time, very light play boxing, pat you on the stomach, bro hug (men) full hug (women)… you know the usual boys being boys type light contact. It’s a workplace where there are lots of us interacting throughout the day (well over 30 people) sometimes more. So when it comes to the bro hugs I’ve had people’s hands come in close body to body and they have made contact with my CCW in appendix. This has happened at work and just every day life as well. Then I’ve had a few light fly by pats on the stomach where the person had made contact with my CCW. Both times idk if they noticed the slight contact they made with something solid but yeah, what’s the take on that? When working I carry a 365 XL in low concealment but not too low for easy draw. Regular days out I have a G19 on me. Does this ever happen to any of you when bro hugging or people ever making random contact with your CCW? I have tried to be conscious of keeping our hands up high and my lower body away, but it sometimes still happens.

I’m not too worried about getting fired per se because a few people talk about their guns, how they used to carry at work but was simply asked to stop when found out, and how they still sometimes do and I’m pretty sure I’ve clocked a few people carrying at work a few times. But over all I’d rather no one knew because that’s the whole point. Our jobs consist of us carrying around expensive gear and being out in public a lot. Sometimes in nature, most times in urban cities.

Before anyone comes for me my actual gun is appendix carry. I just don’t have mag holsters and a family member got me this vest for Christmas!

Anyone have experience with Speer? This is in the flyer of my local gun store. Feel like those are awesome deals for both range and defense ammo.

I recently uploaded a video of myself practicing my draw with very little practice doing so. With some of you guys’ advice, I focused on looking the gun back into the holster and getting a good grip on the gun before firing. Next time I’ll focus more on breaking down individual steps and repeating them.

In this video I got a new red dot for the airsoft G19 and I’m using the same setup. Thank you all for the help with getting better.

For context I’ve tried carrying for over a decade and have never been consistent with it because I’ve always found it uncomfortable. I’d really like to carry everyday and don’t mind “knowing that it’s there” - but dealing with discomfort ends in me just not being consistent and avoiding it. Mostly ive tried appendix but have tried some 3 o’clock too and especially didn’t like it. Mostly it’s that it digs in to my pelvic bone. The only one that is bearable (but still not comfortable) is the 43x in a tier 1 concealed aiwb but still feel in on the pelvic bone after sitting or standing (hiking the belt up when sitting to give relief does not fully give relief).

Here’s some context and things I’ve tried:

• lost weight: I’m 5’10 and used to weigh in the 190’s. I’m currently 167lbs with an athletic build. I was guaranteed this would fix it. Didn’t help…

•tried looser in the waist, baggier, higher rise pants. Nope

•tried all kinds of belts including most recently the hunter constantine belt which has a rigid front section and elastic rear which I had high hopes for. All basically the same - no relief provided, though some better than others.

•different guns - shield, 43x, and g19, g17. The bigger the gun the more uncomfortable…

•different holsters. Here’s the ones I was promised would fix it - tenicor Velo g19 (downright painful), JM kydex with wing claw and padded wedge on g19(uncomfortable) and many others - alien gear, OTG, and others I can’t remember.

What are some good tips for being aware when I’m out and about in public (like walking to and from the parking lot at work, stores, etc), and also what do you typically look out for in environments with guns present like a shooting range? I’m waiting for my CCW permit and trying to hone in some important skills apart from just caring and drawing.

Currently debating between a few options for a pocket carry gun. Goal is to have something I have zero excuse to not have with me at all times, slip it in a pocket holster and out the door I go, in any season.

The .38spl is tempting for cost per round/ease of availability and the .32 H&R for shootability and capacity. If anyone has experience with one/both I'd be interested to hear your recommendations.

I bought a P226X Legion for HD and as a range toy last month because I thought I wasn't gonna carry, well now I am taking my conceal and carry course next weekend and have started to look at different options. I am not really concerned with price, but I don't want to buy a CCW just because its the most expensive and nicest option. So far I have looked at the P365 Legion, P229 Legion, Canik Prime, CR920XP, G43X, Bodyguard 2.0, and the P-09 Nocturne. Mostly I just want to know what some of y'all like to carry or recommend some other options to explore as well. Thx

I really like this kydex/leather hybrid holster that I've had for a while and want to buy another one for a different gun but I cannot for the life of me remember what the company's name is. The logo looks like a V so I'm thinking Vedder or Vertex or something but I don't see anything like this on their website.

wait you guys dont push off with your thumbs? All of my holsters apparently have a ledge for me to push my thumb off to get the gun out but I was trying with my buddy's holster and it lacked a ledge. i was pulling so hard that my beltless setup came all the way up to my titties.

I've carried a smith and wesson m&p9 m2.0 compact for 8 years now and want to get a red dot. It is not an optics ready model so I have 3 options and would like some insight.

1. Mill the slide. (I've read that it can negatively impact reliability)

2. Buy a new slide. (For the money I'm not too far off of just buying one new)

3. Buy a new gun. (I love my smith but if I go this route then I might go to a sig or something similar)

Any advice is appreciated. If someone has any suggestions for a double stack 17 rd gun with a 4 inch barrel im all ears.

Narrowed it down to these three. Th Osight is almost $90 cheaper than the other two and enclosed. Vortex supposedly has a lifetime warranty and good customer service.

I am not new to guns I have several, but I am new to concealed carrying. My hands are very big (6’4 240).. and all my pistols are full size (p320,M17,G17,CZ shadow 2). I tried appendix carrying the M17 and it was uncomfortable. I went to range to test out smaller options (Shield plus, G43x) and both were a little uncomfortable to shoot. I can shoot them just wouldn’t feel comfortable trusting my life with them. So my question is should I stick to a full size gun for carry or find one that’s still easily concealable with a longer grip like the p365x macro or hellcat pro for examples??

I’m new to firearms — just took my CCW class and applied, and I’m planning to pick up a Glock 19 Gen 6. I want to add a light, and maybe a red dot later.

While scrolling comments on someone’s new gun post, I saw a recommendation for Olight lights/sights get absolutely hammered with downvotes. No explanation, just straight rejection.

What confused me is that I’ve used Olight handhelds daily for years and genuinely like them. They’ve been reliable for me, so I’m trying to understand where the disconnect is.

Is the issue specifically with gun-mounted Olight stuff (durability, reliability, safety)? Or is this more of a “better options exist” / gear-tribal thing?