Thank goodness it's not me.
http://tinyurl.com/c2lghzpGuy got busted because a school bus driver behind him in a left-turn lane supposedly saw him put his handgun into a secured container in his dashboard.
Even though he has a CHP it does not matter since Va law says concealed carry in a secured container in the car (glovebox, closed center console, etc.) is legal without a CHP.
Va law defines the crime of brandishing as
Virginia Code § 18.2-282. Pointing, holding, or brandishing firearm, air or gas operated weapon or object similar in appearance; penalty.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to point, hold or brandish any firearm or any air or gas operated weapon or any object similar in appearance, whether capable of being fired or not, in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another or hold a firearm or any air or gas operated weapon in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured. However, this section shall not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor or, if the violation occurs upon any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, including buildings and grounds or upon public property within 1,000 feet of such school property, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.
B. Any police officer in the performance of his duty, in making an arrest under the provisions of this section, shall not be civilly liable in damages for injuries or death resulting to the person being arrested if he had reason to believe that the person being arrested was pointing, holding, or brandishing such firearm or air or gas operated weapon, or object that was similar in appearance, with intent to induce fear in the mind of another.
C. For purposes of this section, the word "firearm" means any weapon that will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or multiple projectiles by the action of an explosion of a combustible material. The word "ammunition," as used herein, shall mean a cartridge, pellet, ball, missile or projectile adapted for use in a firearm.
(Code 1950, § 18.1-69.2; 1968, c. 513; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1990, cc. 588, 599; 1992, c. 735; 2003, c. 976; 2005, c. 928.)
There's a lot more story to this than just some bus driver wetting his panties at the mere sight of the gun. Unfortunately the guy's attorney will not authorize release of all the details just yet.
If any of you remember my incident at the ferry landing a few years ago - this is turning out, just in the first week, to be an even bigger circus.
I'm not asking anybody to make a donation. I am asking that if you feel so inclined you post a note of support to the guy.
I hope you will check on the progress of this case every few weeks just to see how much chest-high BS must be waded through just to get to the point where his attorney can discuss how puting a handgun in a daskboard glovebox can "reasonably induce fear in the mind of another" or how doing so is the sdame as "hold[ing] a firearm or any air or gas operated weapon in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured" - especially when the one who supposedly had fear induced into his mind was at all times behind the guy's vehicle and the gun never pointed rearwards.
I swear it's
deja vu all over again.
stay safe.