Firearms; pointing, holding, or brandishing in presence of a law-enforcement officer, penalty. (HB783)
Introduced By
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Brandishing a firearm; law-enforcement officer; penalty. Provides for a six-month mandatory minimum sentence upon conviction of a person for pointing, holding, or brandishing a firearm or similar weapon in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another if the offense is committed in the presence of someone who the person knows or has reason to know is a law-enforcement officer. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/12/2016 | Committee |
| 01/12/2016 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16100962D |
| 01/12/2016 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 01/14/2016 | Impact statement from VCSC (HB783) |
| 01/19/2016 | Assigned to sub: Criminal Law |
| 01/19/2016 | Assigned App. sub: Criminal Law |
| 01/19/2016 | Assigned Courts sub: Criminal Law |
| 02/02/2016 | Impact statement from DPB (HB783) |
| 02/10/2016 | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (11-Y 0-N) |
| 02/12/2016 | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (17-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/12/2016 | Committee substitute printed 16105288D-H1 |
| 02/13/2016 | Read first time |
| 02/15/2016 | Read second time |
| 02/15/2016 | Committee substitute agreed to 16105288D-H1 |
| 02/15/2016 | Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB783H1 |
| 02/16/2016 | Read third time and passed House (76-Y 23-N) |
| 02/16/2016 | VOTE: PASSAGE (76-Y 23-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/17/2016 | Impact statement from DPB (HB783H1) |
| 02/17/2016 | Constitutional reading dispensed |
| 02/17/2016 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 02/24/2016 | Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia opposes this bill. Among other things, mandatory minimum sentences: increase the effects of existing racial disparities in the criminal justice system, strip judges of the ability to make the sentence fit the crime, empower prosecutors to push defendants into bargaining away their constitutional rights, and unnecessarily increase the prison population. The ACLU of Virginia opposes legislation that would expand or increase mandatory minimum sentences.