Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-56.2 — Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 4: Assaults and Bodily Woundings, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-56.2
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "adult" shall mean a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child or a person twenty-one years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is allowing access to firearms by children a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Allowing access to firearms by children is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-56.2.
Which Virginia statute covers allowing access to firearms by children?
Allowing access to firearms by children is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-56.2 (Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.