Concealed Guns: The Fad You Might Not Have Noticed
The Sterling Foundation plans to install trees and bushes along Sterling Boulevard, from Holly Avenue to Route 7.
(By Erica Garman)
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Living in LoCo is Erica Garman's blog devoted to all things interesting in Loudoun County. You can find it athttp:/
On March 4, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) vetoed a bill that would have given more leeway to Virginians who have concealed handgun permits -- which appears to be a rising segment of the Loudoun County population.
According to Circuit Court records I obtained last week, 765 Loudoun residents were issued concealed handgun permits in 2007. That's a 27 percent increase from 2006 (602 permits). Since January, 220 permits have been granted, indicating that there will be a significant increase in residents packing heat this year.
Virginia Senate Bill 476 would have allowed permit holders to bring concealed handguns into bars and restaurants. Patrons would have been required to notify their server of the weapon and would not have been allowed to consume alcohol on the premises.
Current law states that concealed weapons are not allowed in establishments that serve alcohol.
I spoke with state Sens. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Winchester) and Mark R. Herring (D-Loudoun), whose districts include Loudoun, and asked about their votes on SB 476.
Vogel fully supported the legislation. "The majority of concealed weapon permit holders carry a gun as part of their job -- they are business owners, security workers, retired law enforcement or military officials -- and they don't want to leave their weapon in the car, where it could be stolen or used against them," she said.
Herring did not support the bill. "Drinking alcohol and carrying firearms is not a good mix," he said. "It's a public safety issue. There was no compelling case for loosening the restriction on carrying a concealed weapon into bars."
Out With the Old Greenery, In With the New
Sterling Boulevard is getting a "green" makeover.
In its quest to beautify the aging neighborhood, the Sterling Foundation has hired a landscaper to put trees and bushes along the Sterling Park thoroughfare, from Holly Avenue to Route 7.
The project had been on hold for almost a year because of Loudoun County Sanitation Authority watering restrictions. Now that the restrictions have been lifted, let the beautification begin!
