I respectfully encourage you to allow concealed carry in Virginia State Forests.  A state forest is a place for all to be safe and enjoy the forest.  Hiking in the forest demands safety in many forms and an essential part of being safe is being able to defend yourself from forest animals and/or humans looking to prey upon those enjoying the forest.  We have seen many articles outlining people missing or murdered by those who do harm.  Wildlife has also attacked hikers, viewing them as vulnerable.   Being able to defend yourself, especially while walking in the forest is essential to being safe.  Carrying concealed is a way to protect yourself without appearing threatening to others.  Citizens that follow the law in obtaining and safely using handguns are not the ones harming others.  Criminals do not follow laws to obtain handguns.  So by not allowing law abiding citizens to concealed carry, you are actually helping criminals to accomplish their crimes.  If a criminal does not know who is concealed carrying, they will move on to a state or areas that does not allow concealed carry where they can commit their crimes against others more easily and without worry of harm to themselves.  Please before voting on this important legislation, read a book by John R Lott, Jr., a well respected statistics professor who initially embarked to promote restrictive gun laws and through his research found that putting guns in the hands of citizens REDUCED crime dramatically.  Thank you.  Shelley  Hnot