Firearms; reporting those lost or stolen, civil penalty. (HB9)

Introduced By

Del. Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond) with support from co-patrons Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), and Sen. Lamont Bagby (D-Richmond)

Progress

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

Description

Reporting lost or stolen firearms; civil penalty. Requires that, if a firearm is lost or stolen from a person who lawfully possessed it, such person shall report the loss or theft of the firearm to any local law-enforcement agency or the Department of State Police within 48 hours after such person discovers the loss or theft or is informed by a person with personal knowledge of the loss or theft. The bill requires the relevant law-enforcement agency to enter the report information into the National Crime Information Center. A violation is punishable by a civil penalty of not more than $250. The bill provides that a person who, in good faith, reports the loss or theft is immune from criminal or civil liability for acts or omissions that result from the loss or theft. The immunity does not apply to a person who knowingly gives a false report. The bill does not apply to the loss or theft of an antique firearm. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
11/18/2019Committee
11/18/2019Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20100298D
11/18/2019Referred to Committee on Public Safety
01/06/2020Impact statement from DPB (HB9)
01/24/2020Reported from Public Safety (15-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
01/28/2020Read first time
01/29/2020Read second time
01/29/2020Passed by temporarily
01/29/2020Engrossed by House
01/30/2020Read third time and passed House (55-Y 44-N)
01/30/2020VOTE: Passage (55-Y 44-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2020Constitutional reading dispensed
01/31/2020Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
02/24/2020Reported from Judiciary (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
02/25/2020Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/26/2020Read third time
02/26/2020Reading of amendment waived
02/26/2020Amendment by Senator McClellan agreed to
02/26/2020Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/26/2020Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 20-N) (see vote tally)
02/26/2020Chair votes Yes
02/28/2020Placed on Calendar
02/28/2020Senate amendment agreed to by House (55-Y 44-N)
02/28/2020VOTE: Adoption (55-Y 44-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2020Enrolled
03/05/2020Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB9ER)
03/05/2020Impact statement from DPB (HB9ER)
03/06/2020Signed by Speaker
03/06/2020Signed by President
03/12/2020Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 12, 2020
03/12/2020G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
04/06/2020G Approved by Governor-Chapter 743 (effective 7/1/20)
04/06/2020G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0743)

Comments

JoAnne Norton writes:

This is a good bill

patrick shipley writes:

This is a horrible bill. Say my wife is at home. She is attacked and is taken to the hospital. While at the house before going to the hospital I see the safe open and Know a firearm is taken. I go to the hospital with my wife. 24 hours later I am a criminal if I fail to report it. Gun owners report firearms stolen already. This makes the victim a victim twice.

Phil Steinschneider writes:

This is ludicrous and unnecessary. A good citizen will report a stolen or lost firearm anyway. Creating a law that imposes an additional burden on law-abiding citizens after they have been victimized adds insult to injury.

What is even worse about this bill is its target. The text says, "...if a firearm is lost or stolen from a person who lawfully possessed it..." This indicates that those who have an illegal firearm are absolved from complying with the law. How ridiculous.

The goal of this bill is to burden lawful gun owners with unneeded government oversight.

Mike writes:

This is nonsense that intends to punish victims. Next step is to punish rape victims that don't report their attackers within 24 hours?