July 1st: SafeSide Update (And answers to some of our Staff's favorite questions they've been asked)
Posted by SafeSide Staff | 06.30.2021
As is tradition in Virginia most new laws take effect on July 1st, and this year is no different, with Virginia legalizing adult consumption and possession of marijuana. You may be asking yourself why a gun store and range is writing a blog post about legalized marijuana, and the answer can be found within a question. As a federal firearms license holder, we have to abide by the rules and laws given to us by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm & Explosives, or as we all know them by, the ATF.
When you purchase a firearm, you are asked on the federal form “Are you an unlawful used of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug or any other controlled substance?” It continues under the question with a warning that states “The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it have been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.” What this means for you is that you cannot purchase, possess, or transport firearms if you have been found to be an unlawful user or addicted to marijuana, even though it has been legalized for adult use here in Virginia.
While none of us at SafeSide are mind readers and have any idea what you do in your free time, what we do know is that marijuana use is easy to detect if you have it on you, have recently smoked it, or you are asking where you can find the candy bars at. So please think twice before coming to use the range or purchase a firearm if you have partaken in the devil’s cabbage, it’s Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, not Harold and Kumar go to the gun range. Our staff cannot and will not be able to provide you with services or even allow you to touch a firearm if you are showing any signs of marijuana intoxication or use.
As a federal firearms license holder those rules apply to the entirety of our property here at SafeSide, so please keep the following in mind when you plan on visiting us:
- Hot boxing in your car in the parking lot is not allowed
- Having a goody bag in your pocket for after you leave the store is not allowed
- Walking around the store wearing Eau de Mary Jane (smelling like weed), not allowed
- Quoting your favorite Cheech and Chong lines, absolutely allowed
This new change in the law will also mean that an updated safety waiver for all our entities will be coming up very soon, keep an eye out for signage and make sure you have a new waiver completed before you arrive.
Another big change coming on July 1st is that SafeSide will only be facilitating transfers for US Citizens and Green Card holders. This change will help us provide a better level of service to our customers as it does take a lot of time to properly complete a background check for a customer who does not fall into one of the previous categories listed.
Since we have been open and operating for almost 9 years now, our staff has been asked A LOT of questions by customers both in person and over the phone. We asked our staff to think back over their time here and to share some of the more memorable questions they’ve been asked about SafeSide, the range and our location.
- What was this place before you moved in? The warehouse that SafeSide is in was vacant for some time before it was purchased by the company, the previous occupant was the Noland Company who used the site as a warehouse and a showroom for their products
- Do you sell guns? Yes, we do, lots of them.
- Is that a range? Yes, yes, it is. You can shoot in there!
- Do you offer training classes? From the most basic classes for first time shooters, to more advanced courses for law enforcement and federal agencies and everyone in between. We have a class offering that will be right for you
- Is this SafeSide? No, this is Patrick
- What is the craziest thing that has ever happened on your range? We have an RSO that practices his very “best” dance moves when he walks from lane to lane, its pretty crazy to watch
- Is the warehouse haunted? Yes, but it could also just be the guys back in Ammo Land
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