Without getting too deeply immersed in the law, if a CCW permit holder had pulled a weapon and fired it, the permit holder would be responsible for the consequences of each bullet fired. If he accidently hit another innocent person and still killed the perp, he would be held legally responsible for shooting the innocent. If he fired his weapon within a municipality that forbids the discharge of firearms, he would be held responsible for that. If he shot and wounded the perp and stopped the murder, he would be sued by the perp and his lawyers. If he shot and killed the perp, he would be sued by the perp's family. The CCW permit holder would face a mountain of legal costs. And Virginia is also an open carry state. With only a few restrictions, you can wear your handgun on your hip and walk down the street...as long as it isn't concealed.

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Posted by bapple

Capital City

Member since Oct 2010

11927 posts

Posted on 8/27/15 at 9:21 am to BFIV

Most of the following are educated guesses since I don't know Virginia state laws...

quote:
intent

I would think almost anywhere, if a firearm comes out, you can assume death or serious injury. Time machines don't exist yet so we have no way of knowing intent. If you see a firearm, regardless of if it's just used for intimidation, the only think keeping you alive is the person's trigger finger. Intent matters a lot less when a lethal weapon is involved.

quote:
the permit holder would be responsible for the consequences of each bullet fired.

This is true everywhere. We don't have the same legal backing as law enforcement officers do. Any bad shot runs this risk.

quote:
If he accidently hit another innocent person and still killed the perp, he would be held legally responsible for shooting the innocent.

Again, this is true everywhere, not just Virginia.

quote:
If he fired his weapon within a municipality that forbids the discharge of firearms, he would be held responsible for that.

Depends on Virginia's state laws, but I would think if it's a deadly force encounter that the discharge would become null and void. Then again, I am not thoroughly educated on Virginia law so this is a guess.

quote:
If he shot and wounded the perp and stopped the murder, he would be sued by the perp and his lawyers. If he shot and killed the perp, he would be sued by the perp's family

While most likely the case, this isn't necessarily guaranteed, especially if the citizen acted within the confines of Virginia state law.