Weapons; possessing or transporting within Capitol Square, etc. (SB1381)

Introduced By

Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patron Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon)

Description

Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person to carry any firearm or explosive material within (i) the Capitol of Virginia; (ii) Capitol Square and the surrounding area; (iii) any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof; or (iv) any office where employees of the Commonwealth or agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties. The bill provides exceptions for the following individuals while acting in the conduct of such person's official duties: any law-enforcement officer, any authorized security personnel, any active military personnel, any fire marshal when such fire marshal has been granted police powers, or any member of a cadet corps while such member is participating in an official ceremonial event for the Commonwealth. The prohibitions of the bill that apply to any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any office where state employees are performing official duties do not apply to retired law-enforcement officials visiting a gun range owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any of the following while acting in the conduct of official duties: a bail bondsman, an employee of the Department of Corrections or a state juvenile correctional facility, an employee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, or an employee of the Department of Wildlife Resources. Such prohibitions also do not apply to an individual carrying a weapon into a courthouse who is statutorily exempt, any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education, or any state park. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such firearms or explosive material be posted at each of the public entrances to Capitol Square and the other locations where such firearms and explosive material are prohibited in the bill. The bill provides that any firearm or explosive material carried in violation of these provisions is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeiture to the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to HB 2295. Read the Bill »

Status

08/05/2021: Awaiting a Vote in the Public Safety Committee

History