HB982: Firearm or pneumatic gun; allowing access by children age four or younger, penalty.
HOUSE BILL NO. 982
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-56.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalties.
A. It shall
be is unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded,
unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child
under the age of fourteen 14. Any person violating the
provisions of this subsection shall
be is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
B. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly authorize a child four years of age or younger to use a firearm or a pneumatic gun under any circumstances. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. It shall be is unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child five years of age or older but
under the age of twelve 12 to use a firearm except when the child is under the
supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
D. For
purposes of this subsection section, "adult" shall mean means a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to
the child, or a
person twenty-one 21 years of age or over older who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or
person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a
firearm.