Virginia Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | No |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | Yes |
The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. Virginia only honors permits or licenses of individuals who are 21 years of age or over. Wisconsin honors Virginia non-resident permits only. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | No Law |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | Shall Issue |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Outright Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Purchase and Possession
No state permit is required to otherwise purchase or possess a rifle, shotgun or handgun. Virginia residents may purchase firearms from any licensed Federal Firearms Licensee, even if they are out of state. MORE |
Carrying
The open carrying of a handgun in Virginia is lawful. MORE |
Antiques and Replicas
Antique firearm means any firearm manufactured in or before 1898 and any replica of such a firearm if such a replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional center-fire ammunition or uses rimfire or conventional center-fire ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the U.S. and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade. This exception applies only to sales by federally licensed gun dealers. The restrictions on concealed carrying and possession by prohibited persons otherwise apply. |
Machine Guns
A machine gun is defined as a weapon that shoots or is designed to shoot, automatically without manual reloading more than one shot by a single function of the trigger. MORE |
"Sawed Off" Shotguns and Rifles
A “sawed-off” shotgun is defined as any weapon loaded or unloaded, originally designed as a shoulder weapon, utilizing a self-contained cartridge from which a number of ball shot pellets or projectiles may be fired simultaneously from a smooth or rifled bore by a single function of the firing device and which has a barrel length of less than 18 inches for smooth bore weapons and 16 inches for rifled weapons. Weapons of less than .225 caliber shall not be included. MORE |
Preemption
No locality shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution or motion, as permitted by § 15.2-1425, and no agent of such locality shall take any administrative action, governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage or transporting of firearms, ammunition, MORE |
Range Protection
No local ordinance regulating any noise shall subject a sports shooting range to noise control standards more stringent than those in effect at its effective date. The operation or use of a sports shooting range shall not be enjoined on the basis of noise. MORE |
Miscellaneous
It is unlawful to discharge a firearm in or across any road, or right-of-way, except at an approved firing range. MORE |
Footnote
1. “Assault firearm” means any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which is equipped with a magazine which will hold more than twenty rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock. |
Friday, March 12, 2021
Today, Governor Ralph Northam signed House Bill 2310. The measure allows individuals who completed online firearms training prior to January 1st, ...
Monday, March 1, 2021
The Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die from its 2021 legislative session today. As a result of strong ...
Friday, February 26, 2021
At the March 2nd Business Meeting, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will hold a vote on an ordinance ...
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
No summary available
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 2310 with a vote of 15-0. It allows those who ...
Monday, February 8, 2021
On February 9th, the Winchester City Council will consider banning firearms in certain public places.
Monday, February 8, 2021
At the February 10th public hearing, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance banning firearms in ...
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
On February 9th, the Fairfax City Council will consider banning firearms in certain public places. Second Amendment supporters are encouraged ...
Friday, January 29, 2021
The National Rifle Association teamed with three Virginia residents and filed a lawsuit on Friday against Fairfax County ...
Friday, January 29, 2021
Today, the National Rifle Association of America and three individuals sued the County of Fairfax, Virginia, alleging that ...