Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; exception for concealed handgun permit holders. Adds an exception for persons who have been issued a valid concealed handgun permit by the Commonwealth or persons who have a valid concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license by reciprocity to the prohibition of carrying a firearm within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof, or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.

Concealed handgun permit; demonstrated competence. Adds a firearms safety or training course conducted by the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) or by a USCCA-certified firearms instructor, or any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law-enforcement agency, institution of higher education, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school utilizing instructors certified by the USCCA to those programs that satisfy the demonstration of competence requirement for the issuance of a Virginia resident or nonresident concealed handgun permit.

Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; certain localities; repeal. Repeals the prohibition on carrying certain loaded shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols in certain localities in the Commonwealth.

Use of auto sear; prohibition; penalty. Makes it a Class 2 felony to possess or use an auto sear in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a crime of violence. The bill also makes it a Class 4 felony to unlawfully possess or use an auto sear for an offensive or aggressive purpose. The bill defines auto sear as a small device with a combination of parts made of metal or plastic designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(b).

Purchase or transportation of firearm by persons convicted of operating a boat or vehicle while intoxicated prohibited; penalty. Provides that any person who, within a five-year period, has been convicted of two misdemeanor driving or boating while intoxicated offenses shall be ineligible to purchase or transport a handgun.

Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person. Provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member may transfer a firearm owned by such prohibited person to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm, provided that such person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm is 21 years of age or older and does not reside with the person who is subject to the protective order. Under current law, there is no requirement that such transferee cannot be younger than 21 years of age and cannot reside with such prohibited person. The bill also provides that such prohibited person who transfers, sells, or surrenders a firearm pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall inform the clerk of the court of the name and address of the transferee, the federally licensed firearms dealer, or the law-enforcement agency in possession of the firearm.

Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. Allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywhere he may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.

Establishment of Virginia Firearm Buy-Back Program and Fund. Directs the Department of State Police to establish the uniform standards for the creation of the Virginia Firearm Buy-Back Program. The bill requires the Department to (i) inform local law-enforcement agencies of the policies and procedures to be used for the Program, (ii) provide guidelines to participating local law-enforcement agencies on implementation of the Program, and (iii) establish a formula for determining any monetary incentive for a surrendered firearm. The bill clarifies that participation in the Program by a local law-enforcement agency is voluntary. The bill also directs the Department to establish the Virginia Firearm Buy-Back Fund, a nonreverting fund to be used solely for the purposes of development and implementation of the Program.

Firearms; National Rifle Association. Removes references to the National Rifle Association (the NRA) from the Code and repealing authority for special license plates in support of the NRA.

Prohibiting the sale, transport, etc., of assault firearms, large-capacity firearm magazines, and silencers; penalties. Expands the definition of "assault firearm" and prohibits any person from importing, selling, transferring, manufacturing, purchasing, or transporting an assault firearm. A violation of this provision of the bill is a Class 6 felony. The bill also prohibits a dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory an assault firearm to any person. The bill makes it a Class 6 felony to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, purchase, or transport a large-capacity firearm magazine, as defined in the bill, and a Class 1 misdemeanor to possess such large-capacity firearm magazine. The bill provides that any person who legally owns a large-capacity firearm magazine on July 1, 2023, may retain possession of such firearm magazine until January 1, 2024, and during that time, such person shall (i) render the large-capacity firearm magazine permanently inoperable, (ii) remove the large-capacity firearm magazine from the Commonwealth, (iii) transfer the large-capacity firearm magazine to a person outside the Commonwealth who is not prohibited from possessing it, or (iv) surrender the large-capacity firearm magazine to a state or local law-enforcement agency. Finally, the bill makes it a Class 6 felony for any person to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, or purchase a silencer, except as provided for in the National Firearms Act.

Assault firearms; purchase; age requirement; penalty. Provides that in order to purchase an assault firearm a person must be 21 years of age or older. The bill also expands the definition of "assault firearm" as the term applies to criminal history record information checks.

Carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship; penalty; repeal. Repeals the prohibition on the carrying of a dangerous weapon in a place of worship without good and sufficient reason while a meeting for religious purposes is being held at such place.

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentences; penalty. Increases from three to five years for a first offense and from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentences for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies. The bill also increases the punishment from a Class 6 felony to a Class 5 felony and increases from five to 10 years the mandatory minimum sentence for knowingly possessing any firearm within the building of a child day center or public, private, or religious preschool, elementary, middle, or high school and intending to use, or attempting to use, such firearm, or displaying such weapon in a threatening manner. The bill also increases the punishment from a Class 6 felony to a Class 5 felony and increases from five to 10 years for a person previously convicted of a violent felony and from two to five years for a person previously convicted of any other felony within the prior 10 years the mandatory minimum sentences for knowingly and intentionally possessing or transporting any firearm.

Replacement of concealed handgun permits; biometric changes. Provides that if a valid concealed handgun permit holder presents a written notice of a change of name, height, weight, or gender on a form provided by the Department of State Police to the clerk of the court who issued such permit, then such clerk shall issue a replacement permit specifying the permit holder's new information.

Purchase of firearms; demonstrated competence with a firearm or completion of a firearms safety or training course; penalty. Requires that a prospective purchaser of a firearm present proof that such prospective purchaser has demonstrated competence with a firearm or completed a firearms safety or training course, as specified in the bill, within the past five years.

Possession of firearm, stun weapon, or other weapon on school property; child day centers and preschools. Limits the prohibition on the possession of firearms, stun weapons, or certain other weapons on the property of child day centers or public, private, or religious preschools to that portion of the child day center or preschool exclusively used for the conduct of the child day center or preschool and excluding any common areas or grounds open to the public.

Weapons; possession or transportation; facility that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to possess in or transport into any facility that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including a hospital or an emergency room or other facility rendering emergency medical care, any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) knife, except a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than three inches; or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill provides that any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and specifies exceptions to the prohibition.

Control of firearms by state agencies; rights of employees. Prohibits state agencies other than the Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, and Virginia Port Authority and public institutions of higher education from adopting any regulation or workplace rule preventing officers or employees of such agencies from storing a lawfully possessed firearm and ammunition in a locked private motor vehicle at their workplace unless the adoption of the regulation is expressly authorized by statute. The bill also provides that any such regulation or rule adopted prior to July 1, 2023, is invalid.

Substantial risk orders; substantial risk factors and considerations. Provides various factors that a judge or magistrate shall consider for the purpose of determining probable cause prior to issuing an emergency substantial risk order or a substantial risk order. The bill provides that such factors shall include whether the person who is subject to the order (i) committed any acts of violence or criminal offenses resulting in injury to himself or another person within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (ii) made any threats or used any physical force against another person that resulted in injury within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (iii) violated any provision of a protective order issued or was arrested for stalking within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (iv) was convicted of any offense that would prohibit such person from possessing a firearm; (v) engaged in any conduct within the year prior to the filing of the petition that demonstrated a pattern of violent acts or threats to another person, including any acts or threats made against family members, neighbors, co-workers, or toward schools or students or government buildings or employees; (vi) committed any acts of violence or criminal offenses against an animal within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (vii) made any attempt or threat of suicide or any act, attempted act, or threat of self-harm that caused or may have caused serious bodily injury; or (viii) evidence of recent acquisition of a firearm or ammunition by the respondent. The bill also outlines various other factors that a judge or magistrate may, but is not required to, consider for the purpose of issuing an emergency substantial risk order or a substantial risk order.

Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability. Creates standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill requires any firearm industry member that sells, manufactures, distributes, markets, or intends to sell, manufacture, distribute, or market firearm industry products, as that term is defined in the bill, within the Commonwealth, or that sells, manufactures, distributes, markets, or intends to sell, manufacture, distribute, or market firearm industry products to be used or possessed within the Commonwealth to comply with such standards of responsible conduct. Such standards include establishing and implementing reasonable controls regarding the manufacture, distribution, importation, marketing, and wholesale or retail sale of firearm industry products and taking reasonable precautions to ensure that such firearm industry products are not sold or distributed to a distributor or retailer that fails to establish and implement such reasonable controls. The bill also creates a civil cause of action for any person who suffers harm as a result of a firearm industry member's violation of the provisions of the bill.

Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles, pistols, and shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded.

Assault firearms; age requirement; penalty. Provides that in order to purchase an assault firearm a person must be 21 years of age or older. The bill expands the definition of "assault firearm" as the term applies to criminal history record information checks.

Purchase, possession, sale, transfer, etc., of assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices prohibited; penalty. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, possesses, transports, or transfers an assault firearm, as that term is defined in the bill, and prohibits a person who has been convicted of such violation from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm for a period of three years from the date of conviction. The bill provides that an assault firearm does not include any firearm that is an antique firearm, has been rendered permanently inoperable, is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, or was manufactured before July 1, 2023. The bill also prohibits the sale of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill provides that any person who willfully and intentionally (i) sells an assault firearm to another person or (ii) purchases an assault firearm from another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and that any person who imports, sells, barters, or transfers a large capacity ammunition feeding device is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person younger than 21 years of age to import, sell, manufacture, purchase, possess, transport, or transfer an assault firearm regardless of the date of manufacture of such assault firearm.

Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by the public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building.

Weapons; possession or transportation; facility that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to possess in or transport into any facility that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including a hospital or an emergency room or other facility rendering emergency medical care, any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) knife, except a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than three inches; or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill provides that any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and specifies exceptions to the prohibition.

Control of firearms by localities. Removes the authority for a locality by ordinance to prohibit the possession or carrying of firearms, ammunition, or components or any combination thereof in (i) any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes; (ii) any public park owned or operated by the locality; (iii) any recreation or community center facility; or (iv) any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. The bill provides that any firearm received by the locality pursuant to a buy-back program shall be offered for sale by public auction or sealed bids to a person licensed as a dealer. Current law provides that any such firearm shall be destroyed by the locality unless the person surrendering the firearm requests in writing that the firearm be offered for sale. The bill also limits the authority of localities to bring lawsuits against certain firearms manufacturers and others and further provides that the right to bring any such action is reserved exclusively to the Commonwealth and shall be brought by the Attorney General.

Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty. Provides that no person shall leave, place, or store a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle, as defined in the bill, unless the vehicle is locked and the handgun is secured in a locked container or locked compartment of the vehicle. The bill provides that any person violating such prohibition is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $500 and such unattended motor vehicle may be subject to removal for safekeeping.

Carrying, sale, transfer, etc., of assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices prohibited; penalties. Prohibits the sale of an assault firearm and a large capacity ammunition feeding device, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill provides that an assault firearm does not include any firearm that is an antique firearm, has been rendered permanently inoperable, is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, or was manufactured before July 1, 2023. The bill provides that any person who willfully and intentionally (i) sells an assault firearm to another person or (ii) purchases an assault firearm from another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and that any person who imports, sells, barters, or transfers a large capacity ammunition feeding device is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also prohibits the carrying of certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded. The bill prohibits a firearms dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory any assault firearm to any person.