For any fellow Virginians or gun law experts, this ones for you. My fiancé and I are going to Colonial Williamsburg this weekend, and even though I've delved into the darkest depths of its webpage, the admins for Colonial Williamsburg have no guidelines for open carry of a firearm. The only reason I'm being cautious about it is because Colonial Williamsburg is considered a national landmark. Does anybody have and answer, or has been and had any problems with carrying? Looking forward to any helpful answers! Thanks.

With the number of tourists visiting the site, I sure the sight of an open carry handgun would cause much concern with tourists unfamiliar with US gun laws. I'm sure your would be stopped by law enforcement officers after they received complaints about "an armed terrorist" on the site.

I'm not familiar with the laws concerning VA and Williamsburg but would one want the potential hassle of being arrested, possible fined, losing your gun, etc? Some times it is wiser to not push the laws even if you would be in the right. Just my $0.02.

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Bill

IMHO, this is one of those "just because you have the right to do something does not mean it's the right thing to do."

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- Change it back -

I don't know if it falls under the same jurisdiction as other national parks in Va., but they are now legal to carry in.
You're going to have to dig deeper to be sure, though.
Make a phone call to that particular park service.
It's cool enough for jackets now so concealed is very easy.
Good luck with your search.

As a former resident of Williamsburg, I would tell you to tread lightly. I unfortunately do not know what the laws are regarding OC in Colonial, but I can tell you that Willimasburg in general and even more so the Colonial portion are their own little unique microcosm of the state. I do not miss living there at all! I wish that I could cite specifics for you, but I can not. I would implore you to do your due diligence though!

First Colonial Williamsburg is not a National Park it is privately owned.

Can not speak to Virginia's laws on OC but you have received some great advice above, just don't do it, even if you can.

It is not illegal to take a whiz on an electric fence but it is sure not advisable.

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LEX ET ORDO

WHY, would you want to "Open Carry" in a Tourist center ??

I recall several people mentioning it on the VA section of the open carry forums, and they all said it was a nonissue with the tourists, and they were positively recognized by the characters who work there.

Check out the opencarry.org forum for VA. You'll find people there who are not only familiar with the law but you'll find people that have actually done it, unlike the speculators who project their own fear of firearms onto 'tourists' and 'soccer moms' or whatever group they fantasize.

Arrested? You cannot even be detained in VA for open carry. Open carry is a lawful act / the police cannot detain a citizen for behaving lawfully / you cannot be detained for open carry. There is no law to "push". Am I "pushing the law" when I wear a watch? The pistol on my belt is every bit as legal as the watch.

If you're carrying a firearm in public, you really should know the law, even (especially) if you're carrying concealed. It's disturbing how many seem to be walking around with a gun and little or no knowledge of the laws that govern it. Willful ignorance is not bliss, it's the epitome of foolishness.

I would advise against open carrying in Colonial Williamsburg because...well, just because.

Maybe change your choice of carry weapon?
A pair of flintlock muzzle loaders pistols OC and possibly a sword, all period correct, might fit in well! 😎

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

I also can't see much reason for open carry in such a venue, even though it may be legal. As a side issue, licensed open carry has been legal in Texas for almost a year. And I have yet to personally see a single person, other than various types of guards or cops, doing it in public.

I thought it has to be a period piece?

1. Are you covered under LEOSA ?

2. If not do you have a permit?

2A. Is your permit valid in VA. ?

3. Assuming you can legally conceal in VA. what is your rationale for choosing Open Carry in this venue ?

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Retired Career Security Guard

If Williamsburg is privately owned I would imagine if the owner or his representative ask you to leave, you either leave or face trespassing charges. (Armed trespass no less....) This will more than likely not go over well with the rest of your family that was really looking forward to the tour.....

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Found this post in a carry forum. It's at least seven years old, but interesting:

CW is BEYOND cool with you open carrying.
I was recently visiting Colonial Williamsburg with the Girlfriend as I’m a bit of a history geek, and haven’t ever been to CW. I searched all over their website for any indication of allowing or forbidding the carry of firearms, but could find nothing. We arrived, and not wanting to get kicked out of a place I really really wanted to go, I approached the blacksmith shop (or was it shoppe) and asked the blacksmith who was working away upon something. I asked him for a moment and quietly asked if CW allowed the carry of firearms as I didn’t want to break any rules. His response was SOOOO cool. I’ll try to quote him as accurately as possible.

With about TWICE the volume I had used to ask him the question, he responded...

“That good sir is the question we are now faced with. His Majesty’s soldiers even now have decreed that the possessions of any firearms are not only forbade and forbidden, but that it is a crime upon king and country to posses the simple means to protect oneself. The town elders, along with good stalwart men of the Continental Congress have urged all colonial citizens to protest the actions of England’s king and to keep their arms ready and prepared to defend this, which they feel is the most sacred of liberties. Stay your weapons upon your person and walk the streets here proudly.“

Needless to say, I was smiling ear to ear and openly carried, and didn’t really get any undue attention, well. . .except for the SECONDEST coolest thing that happened.

After being there for about an hour, we were walking down the street when we saw performers who were dressed to the nines in Period British military uniforms and walking in formation. One of the conscripts saw I was armed and announced “Sir, that colonial is armed, do we detain?” The officer (I think he was a Major, but my English military knowledge is sadly lacking) stopped his squad and took a deep breath. Again, I will try to quote as accurately as I can.

The (Major?) slowly walked over to me, addressing his halted troops the whole time.

“No Mister Norley. Although his Majesty has decreed that ANY position of musket or pistol is a crime against the throne, these rabble can pose no serious threat against the might and resolve of King and Crown. We shall permit this one to have his personal armaments . . .”

And at this he leaned in very closely so only I could hear.

“. . .for now!”

He walked back to take his place at the head of the formation and marched them onward.

It was the coolest day I could remember in a long time. Open carry your gun, you’ll love it.

I'm 99% certain you can. I've heard somewhere that you can't carry inside the historical buildings there, but I'm not sure.. I conceal carry there all the time, but never go into the buildings anyways.. There isn't anything that says you can't from what I'm aware (unless it's in the visitor center) nor did their website. You might get stopped, but highly doubt there'd be any repercussions. Might want to call the visitor center, but then again, they probably don't even know themselves.


Btw to smoke, VA doesn't issue permits to open carry in VA or to own a firearm in VA, it's a right any legal firearm owner has. 18+ can open carry in legal places (18-20 may carry a handgun, but not allowed to purchase or buy handgun ammo).. Just need one to conceal carry.

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Isaiah 43:1-3

It's interesting to see all the opinions here, being voiced by folks who obviously never open carried at Colonial Williamsburg, let alone open carried anywhere else. "The tourists will freak out". "The police will arrest or detain you".

I have first hand experience here. Two summers ago I went with my family. I *open carried* the entire time. Nary a problem, and I even had folks come up to me and thank me for open carrying. The staff at Williamsburg were great, and I even open carried during guided tours in the buildings.

We ate at one of General Washington's favorite establishments (the name escapes me) open carrying, and everything was cool.

Open carry if you want---it's very good there.

I guess it's just me, but even though I carry every day, I prefer concealed carry. Not because I'm not allowed to carry openly, we have had open carry here in WV ever since I can remember. So anyone who can legally own a handgun can carry it openly or concealed.

For me, though, it is a tactical advantage that only myself and a very few friends know that I am always armed. It's not a question of whether I can...you or practically anyone can... I feel that I am at an advantage, being the only one who knows I am armed.

Most of my police career I worked plainclothes assignments, and although I didn't make a fetish of it, I was mostly concealed carry.

It gives you the edge. IMHO, and YMMV!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

That's the one! I actually found it and copied it the clipboard to paste in here but see you beat me to it.

I could walk the site in a wet suit and a tutu, quite legally, but I'm not that keen on attracting attention myself. Besides, I really prefer to keep the number of people who know I'm armed to an absolute minimum. Just an old man's silly quirk.

Like most historic and scenic destinations, Williamsburg draws visitors from many countries, including some where they already think we are a bunch of undisciplined cowboys. Why perpetuate the stereotype?

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Oh well, what the hell.

I think you missed the intent of my question. The OP isn't from Virginia. I wanted to know if his permit (assuming he has one) is valid in Virginia or if Open Carry was his only legal option.

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Retired Career Security Guard

Well, maybe the OP is from Régie des Voies Aériennes de la République Démocratique du Congo, but... as for me, I'm going with Richmond, VA.

Fixed that for you.

Whoops, didn't catch that. Not sure what I was thinking.

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Isaiah 43:1-3

Apparently I missed some stuff too the OP is from Virginia.

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Retired Career Security Guard

Many countries don't recognize freedom in general. Free speech is forbidden, for example. Should we keep our mouths shut when we are around tourists so as to avoid perpetuating some stereotype about loud mouthed American's exercising their freedom?

Here's an alternate viewpoint to yours: If tourists from other countries (which don't respect Natural Rights) see civil and peaceable Americans exercising their Natural Rights (like open carrying), some tourists just might start to think more critically about their own country, what freedom actually means, and how firearms do in fact belong in a peaceful society.

Just my perspective.

My perspective: There is no point in frightening people just because you can.

You have the right to free speech, in our country. But it doesn't mean you have to run around 24/7 screaming about whatever, right?

I am comfortable around guns, and around strangers open carrying. I'm a gun guy. But I think insisting on open carry, just because it is legal, in crowded places, knowing that it upsets people, is just little fellows trying to get a rise out of the uninformed because it makes them feel — falsely — like a wee, wee, wee bit .... larger fellows.

I think y'all oughta grow up.

By that logic, we have a right to free speech, but we shouldn't go around drawing a particular historical religious figure because it really upsets a bunch of followers of a certain religion.

Fall in line, don't exercise one's natural rights when it might offend those who are either uneducated about liberty or hate liberty. And anyone who doesn't must merely be immature?

That's an interesting position.

Open carry is a peaceable way of carrying a firearm for the lawful defense of self and others. I've been doing it for many years now. And my own empirical observations tell me that around 95 percent of people either don't notice it or don't care. Perhaps 1 out of 2000 actually have a real problem. That's the reality. So, the practice OC really does not mirror screaming 24/7 or any other such strawman analogy.

Finally: You ask for Open carriers to 'grow up' by attacking the character and reputations of those who choose to open carry. Perhaps the irony of this isn't invisible to anyone in a reflective mood.

Open carry usually is not a good idea. I will open carry in remote areas while hunting, fishing, camping, etc. But I am preparing for a potentially different kind of threat. If a two-legged threat is my main concern, I prefer not to announce that I am carrying.

Hey Snubby, where's the popcorn!

What I don't understand is why "open carry" when it isn't necessary unless it is to get in somebody's face.
I don't care what the subject, (open carry, free speech, religion, etc.) when someone gets in my face, I tend to push back, even if I actually agree with their right. It's the shoving of their opinion in my face that I don't like.
Why create angst.......

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

I made out a logical point about a line of reasoning. Your response is to ask about how large I feel?

Geeeesh... OP asked a simple question about the law, not a request for psychobabble and bickering.

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP