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1996 SESSION

961458198
HOUSE BILL NO. 13
Offered January 10, 1996
Prefiled December 20, 1995
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-286 and 18.2-287.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to firearms; penalties.
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Patron-- Davies (By Request)
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 18.2-286 and 18.2-287.1of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-286. Shooting in or across road or in street.

If any person discharges a firearm, crossbow or bow and arrow in or across any road, or within the right-of-way thereof, or in a street of any city or town, he shall, for each offense, be guilty of a Class 4 1 misdemeanor. If the firearm, crossbow or bow is discharged from a vehicle, then the operator of that vehicle shall also be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to firing ranges or shooting matches maintained, and supervised or approved, by law-enforcement officers and military personnel in performance of their lawful duties.

§ 18.2-287.1. Transporting a loaded rifle or shotgun.

The governing body of any county or city is hereby empowered to adopt ordinances making it unlawful for any person to transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road, or highway within such locality. Any violation of such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100 as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Game wardens, sheriffs and all other law-enforcement officers shall enforce the provisions of this section. No ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall be enforceable unless the governing body adopting such ordinance so notifies the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries by registered mail prior to May 1 of the year in which such ordinance is to take effect.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to duly authorized law-enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, nor to any person who reasonably believes that a loaded rifle or shotgun is necessary for his personal safety in the course of his employment or business.