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1997 SESSION

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961368297
HOUSE BILL NO. 1514 Offered January 22, 1996 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.1-29.15:1, relating to possessing weapons in certain local government facilities; penalty. ----------
Patrons-- Hull, Connally, Darner, Moran, Plum, Puller and Scott; Senator: Howell
---------- Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.1-29.15:1 as follows:

§ 15.1-29.15:1. Possessing or carrying dangerous weapons into certain local government facilities; penalty.

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 15.1-29.15, the governing body of any locality may by ordinance make it unlawful for any person to possess a dangerous weapon in a local government facility or to transport a dangerous weapon into a local government facility. Notice of any such ordinance shall be posted at each public entrance to each local government facility that is within the scope of any such ordinance. A violation of such ordinance shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor, and upon conviction, any weapon seized shall be forfeited to the locality and disposed of in accordance with the law.

For the purposes of this section, the term "local government facility" means any building or part thereof that is owned, leased or managed by the local government and that is not excluded by the terms of any such ordinance. For the purposes of this section, the term "dangerous weapon" means: (i) any gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) any frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile or ammunition designed for use with any gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; or (iii) any explosive, taser, stun weapon, knife or other weapon specified in subsection A of § 18.1-308; however, this term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2.5 inches in length.

No such ordinance shall apply to: (i) any law-enforcement officer, as defined by § 9-169; (ii) any game warden, animal warden or deputy animal warden; (iii) any special police officer; or (iv) any magistrate, court officer or judge who is carrying a dangerous weapon while in the conduct of such person's official business. Nothing in any such ordinance shall affect § 18.2-283.1.