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2021 SPECIAL SESSION I

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HB 2295 Firearm; carrying within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, state-owned bldgs.

Introduced by: Mark H. Levine | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION:

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, any state park, or any magistrate acting in the conduct of the magistrate's official duties. 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 SB 1381.

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

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 SB 1381.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Carrying a firearm within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person to carry any firearm within (i) the Capitol of Virginia; (ii) Capitol Square and the surrounding area, as described in the bill; (iii) any building, parking lot, or parking structure owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof; (iv) any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth where employees of the Commonwealth perform their official duties; or (v) any building where the General Assembly meets or conducts its business. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement officers, court officers, authorized security personnel, and active military personnel while in the conduct of such person's official duties; any retired law-enforcement officer who is visiting a gun range owned or leased by the Commonwealth; and any state employee of a state or juvenile correctional facility who is authorized to carry a firearm while in the conduct of such employee's official duties. The bill provides that an individual who lawfully possesses a firearm may keep such firearm in his locked vehicle in a parking lot or parking structure described in clause (iii) so long as the firearm is (a) secured, (b) not visible, and (c) in a container or compartment inside of the vehicle. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such firearms be posted at each of the public entrances to Capitol Square and such buildings, parking lots, and parking structures. The bill also provides that any firearm carried in violation of these provisions is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeiture to the Commonwealth.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Carrying a firearm or stun weapon within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person to carry any firearm or stun weapon within (i) the Capitol of Virginia; (ii) Capitol Square and the surrounding area; (iii) any building, parking lot, or parking structure owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof; (iv) any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth where employees of the Commonwealth perform their official duties; or (v) any building where the General Assembly meets or conducts its business. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement officers, court officers, authorized security personnel, and active military personnel while in the conduct of such person's official duties. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such weapons be posted at each of the public entrances to Capitol Square and such buildings, parking lots, and parking structures. The bill also provides that any firearm or stun weapon carried in violation of these provisions is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeiture to the Commonwealth.