As one who has read, researched, and considered this general topic for over twenty years, I do advise in favor of the proposed amendment. In fact, I would advise going one small step further by appending the following language: "nor to open carry of a defensive sidearm in compliance with the provisiona of 18.2 by persons not otherwise prohibited possession of firearms by relevent portions of Virgina or Federal code." ; or like language.

The right to defend one's self is never more important than when one is remote from official assistance, and experience in public places in general under current code shows that Virginians are well self-controlled when armed. This being the case, and with actual discharge of weapons prohibited except when hunting in season with a license, target-shooting in a safe and reasonable location (such as a sighting-n range), or in case of actual necessity for defense of self or others; therefor I can find no good reason to interfere with Virginians' rights (or those of other Americans' visiting Virginia) while engaged in recreational activities on lands held or administered by VDoF.

I urge both approval of the proposed language, and its extension to open carry.