You Talkin' to Me?
(UPDATE: Webb says he did not give aide his gun ) T he arrest of an aide to Virginia Sen. Jim Webb for gun possession is bound to be a straight line for at least a few days. The poor guy -- a husband and father -- had to spend the night in jail for forgetting to drop off in Virginia a handgun and two full magazines. What none of the news accounts I've read make abundantly clear is how easy it is for this sort of thing to happen in all innocence. Virginia, which borders DC and is so close in every way that it even shares the city's subway system, is a "shall issue" state , which means that the right to be granted a permit to carry a concealed handgun is more or less inherent and can only be denied for narrow reasons. All you need to qualify for a permit is $50, demonstrate minimal shooting proficiency (taking a safety course from a shooting instructor), fill out some forms, prove residency, wait at least 45 days and make two trips to court (drop off forms, ...