I am in favor of PT's doing dry needling as both a patient and a student physical therapist. Before I entered PT school, I had dry needling while I was a patient for my hips. Within one treatment with dry needling I could gain 20 degrees of flexion in my hips. Without it, my recovery would have been much longer, as that quick increase in motion allowed the PT to work on the other instabilities and problems that were also occurring.

As a student PT, I feel that Physical Therapists possess the anatomical, physiological and clinical knowledge to perform trigger point dry needling safely and effectively. Physical Therapists are highly educated and trained healthcare professionals who specialize in treating the neurological, muscular and skeletal movement systems via many modalities and dry needling is one such modality. 
Trigger point dry needling is distinctly different from acupuncture as the treatment goal and method is different. While both practices may use a similar implement or device, the clinical reasoning, technique, and goal of the treatment are different. 
The regulations proposed by the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy are sufficient to ensure public safety and should be fully enacted.