Firearms; person guilty of Class 4 felony if sells to person he knows is prohibited from possessing. (SB1378)

Introduced By

Sen. Tom Garrett (R-Lynchburg) with support from co-patrons Sen. George Barker (D-Alexandria), and Sen. George Barker (D-Alexandria)

Description

Sale and transport for sale of firearms to certain persons; penalty. Provides that any person who sells, barters, gives, etc., any firearm to any person he knows is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm under Virginia law is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Under current law, the penalty for such offense is a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides that a person who engages in the "strawman" purchase of a firearm, where he purchases a firearm with the intent to resell or transport with the intent to resell outside of the Commonwealth to any person he knows is prohibited from purchasing a firearm, is guilty of a Class 4 felony and shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year. Under current law, the penalty for such an offense is a Class 5 felony. Finally, the bill provides that a person who is ineligible to purchase or possess a firearm and who assists any other person in the strawman purchase of a firearm is guilty of a Class 4 felony with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years. Under current law, the penalty for such offense is a Class 5 felony. If such violation involves multiple firearms, the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment is 10 years. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History