Paramilitary activities; penalty. (SB64)

Introduced By

Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) with support from co-patron Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Paramilitary activities; penalty. Provides that a person is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity if such person brandishes a firearm or any air-operated or gas-operated weapon or any object similar in appearance while assembled with one or more persons for the purpose of and with the intent to intimidate any person or group of persons. Such unlawful paramilitary activity is punishable as a Class 5 felony. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
11/21/2019Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
11/21/2019Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20101207D
11/21/2019Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
11/27/2019Impact statement from VCSC (SB64)
01/08/2020Moved from Courts of Justice to Judiciary due to a change of the committee name
02/03/2020Committee substitute printed 20106379D-S1
02/03/2020Reported from Judiciary with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2020Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/05/2020Impact statement from VCSC (SB64S1)
02/05/2020Read second time
02/05/2020Reading of substitute waived
02/05/2020Committee substitute agreed to 20106379D-S1
02/05/2020Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB64S1
02/06/2020Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2020Placed on Calendar
02/12/2020Read first time
02/12/2020Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/13/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB64S1)
02/18/2020Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
02/24/2020Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N)
02/24/2020Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
02/28/2020Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (12-Y 9-N) (see vote tally)
02/28/2020Committee substitute printed 20109031D-H1
03/03/2020Impact statement from VCSC (SB64H1)
03/03/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB64H1)
03/03/2020Read second time
03/04/2020Read third time
03/04/2020Committee substitute agreed to 20109031D-H1
03/04/2020Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB64H1
03/04/2020Passed House with substitute (51-Y 47-N)
03/04/2020VOTE: Passage (51-Y 47-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Passed by temporarily
03/05/2020House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Title replaced 20109031D-H1
03/12/2020Enrolled
03/12/2020Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB64ER)
03/12/2020Impact statement from DPB (SB64ER)
03/12/2020Signed by President
03/12/2020Signed by Speaker
03/17/2020Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 17, 2020
03/17/2020G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
04/02/2020G Approved by Governor-Chapter 601 (effective 7/1/20)
04/02/2020G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0601)

Comments

Martha writes:

Intent of intimidating? How is this determined and by whom? This law should not exist in a free country.

Susan writes:

Long overdue. Thank you for introducing this bill.

Jon Russell writes:

This will be overturned in the US Supreme Court. None of your business who I decide to shoot with or train with.

Sincerely,
Jon Russell
Culpeper Town Councilman

John Fulwider writes:

If I chose to go to a gun range to train with a friend or a bunch of friends it's none of anyone's business except for the person / people involved. Infringing on constituents rights provided to us by our very wise founding fathers is just a way for the Elite to gain temporary power in order to gain more power over the people in the future. The Supreme Court will overturn all of this.

Phil Steinschneider writes:

Not only is this unconstitutionally vague, but it clearly violates the First Amendment.

The unintended consequences of this legislation would be far-reaching. It would squelch and criminalize numerous things that are protected under the First Amendment.

This bill's author has apparently forgotten some of the Bill of Rights. Here's a reminder:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Alfred M Dodson Jr writes:

SB64 should be struck down. In addition existing 18.2-433.2 as it is written should be made void and carefully rewritten to avoid unintended consequences. One thing in particular that is very troublesome is the legal definition of the phrase "having reason to know". SB64 and 18.2-433.2 as it is written infringe on the 2nd Amendment in that they could be used to make it illegal for the unofficial militia to organize and train. The right of the unofficial militia to organize and train are protected under the United States and the Virginia Constitutions.