As a Virginia concealed-carry permit holder, military veteran, and concerned citizen, I  urge the Virginia Department of Forestry to amend the Administrative Code and to support the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians to carry in VA State Forests.  Carry permit holders are consistently proven to be among the most law-abiding of all citizens; there is absolutely no threat to the general public from this potential restoration of our civil rights.  In fact, the benefit to all citizens should be clear - in each state that has enacted "shall issue" concealed carry reform (including Virginia), violent crime has significantly decreased shortly thereafter.  Expanding the locations where these upstanding citizens can protect themselves extends the zone of "collateral protection" to those who don't carry.  The only losers are the criminals, who lose another "unarmed victims zone" in which to prey on the unprepared.

Very respectfully,

Col Paul Muller, USMC