The telling part of this law reads:

"No person shall bring into or have in any forest any explosive or explosive substance, except commercial sporting firearms ammunition; explosives, explosive substances and firearms of all types are prohibited in any portion of a forest assigned to the Department of Forestry, for administration as a recreational area. This regulation shall not apply to the carrying of concealed handguns within state forests by holders of a valid concealed handgun permit issued pursuant to § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia."

This makes sense in that Concealed Carry Permit holders have been deemed responsible, law abiding citizens of the counties they reside in.  The carrying of such a permit allows the holder to carry a concealed firearm.  I do not believe there is any argument here.  As such, and given that our forests and parks are not the safe places they used to be.  This danger, frankly, does not come from the denizens of the forest, but of the two-legged visitors to them.  CAse in point is the young couple from Virginia Tech who were found dead along Blue Rdige Parkway last Fall.

The propsed amendment is a good one in the exact language it is given in.  Concealed Carry people are respectful of the people around them, the area in whcih they move, and the rule of law.  They will not diappoint.