HERITAGE SHIELD DEFENSE ACADEMY
🗺️ Travel Safe Guide
Know where you can and cannot carry before you travel. Interactive map of gun-free zones, restricted areas, and carry rules — including DC, school zones, and federal properties.
⚠️ For informational purposes only. Verify current laws before carrying. Not legal advice.
UNIVERSAL FEDERAL GUN-FREE ZONES (ALL STATES)
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School Zones (GFSZA)
18 U.S.C. § 922(q)
Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act: No firearm within 1,000 feet of a K-12 school. Exceptions: licensed carry holders in states that issue licenses.
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Federal Buildings
18 U.S.C. § 930
No firearms in any federal facility. This includes courthouses, post offices, VA hospitals, federal office buildings, and any building/land under federal control.
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Airport Secure Areas
49 U.S.C. § 46505
No firearms beyond TSA security checkpoints. Firearms may be transported in checked baggage when unloaded and declared per TSA rules.
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Power Plants / Nuclear Facilities
10 C.F.R. § 73
Strictly prohibited near nuclear power plants or licensed facilities.
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VA Medical Centers
38 C.F.R. § 1.218
No firearms on VA property, including parking lots.
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Amtrak / Passenger Rail
49 U.S.C. § 28103
Amtrak prohibits firearms in passenger areas. Unloaded, declared firearms in checked baggage on specific routes only.
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National Parks (State Law)
36 C.F.R. § 2.4
Carry is now allowed in National Parks IF legal in the state the park is located in. DC parks = DC law applies (no carry).
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DC — Total Carry Ban
D.C. Code § 22-4504
Washington DC prohibits concealed and open carry for virtually all non-LEO civilians. No out-of-state permit honored. Penalty: up to 5 years imprisonment.
✅ VIRGINIA — GENERALLY PERMITTED — Verify Reciprocity
Shall Issue
Permit: Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)
Open Carry: ✅ Allowed
Constitutional Carry: ❌ No
VA CHP Honored: ✅ Yes
Virginia is a shall-issue state. CHP is honored by 35+ states. Open carry is legal without a permit statewide.
🚫 PROHIBITED IN VIRGINIA
❌ Courthouses
❌ Schools & school buses
❌ Capitol grounds
❌ Air carrier terminals (beyond security)
❌ Mental health facilities
❌ Places of worship during services (with notice)
📚 KEY STATUTES
• Va. Code § 18.2-308 — Concealed carry requires CHP
• Va. Code § 18.2-308.01 — Shall-issue state; apply at circuit court
• Va. Code § 18.2-308.1 — School property prohibited
• Va. Code § 18.2-283.1 — Courthouse carry prohibited
💡 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS — FOPA SAFE PASSAGE (18 U.S.C. § 926A)
The Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) allows interstate transport through any state — including DC, NJ, and NY — if: (1) you are legally allowed to possess the firearm in your origin and destination states, (2) the firearm is unloaded, and (3) it is stored in a locked container in the trunk (not the passenger compartment). This is a federal safe harbor, but you may still be temporarily detained. Know the law and document your route.
Heritage Shield Defense Academy • This guide is informational only. Laws change — always verify with a licensed firearms attorney before traveling.