Migraine,
The key thing to understand about the situation in Virginia is that gun owners are NOT PERMITTED to carry concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol.
If you see it as "in your face," or "chip on shoulder," remember that the problem is not with the gun owners, but with the law itself.
I'm sure that most folks in Virginia would prefer to be discreet with their defensive firearms, but the law doesn't allow it of them while they're out to eat.
If some gun-phobic legislator has a problem with it, they need to introduce a bill to repeal the silly prohibition on concealed carry in restaurants and get it passed.
Bingo! When the "Shall-Issue" law passed in 1995, the anti's inserted the language to prohibit concealed carry in restaurants that serve alcohol. Open carry remains legal.
So, if you have a CHL and want to go out to eat, you have two options:
- open carry, or - leave the pistol at home, or in your vehicle.
Personally, I prefer the first choice.