"Virginia's Department of Conservation has no authority to ban people with concealed-weapon permits from carrying guns into state parks, Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore (R) said.

Del. Richard H. Black (R-Loudoun) had sought Kilgore's opinion on the validity of state regulations that prohibit guns in Virgina's 34 state parks except where hunting is allowed.

'A person's privilege to carry a concealed handgun is considered universal within the commonwealth subject to limited circustances,' Kilgore wrote Black this week, noting that the General Assembly has prohibited concealed handguns in churches, courthouses, schools and bars - but not state parks [nor polling places.] Also, Kilgore wrote, state law does not authorize the conservation department to prohibit a valid permit holder from carring a concealed handgun.

Department spokesman Jim Meisner said that Kilgore's opinion is advisory and that the rules have been in effect for at least 20 years" (Metro in Brief, The Washington Post, September 12, 2002).

See also, Park Officials Look to Bypass Assembly by Banning Guns.