Changes to Virginia laws effective 1 July

[Mike Irwin]

Here's a rundown of new pro-freedom laws coming for Virginia residents in July.

The top three were put in at the request of Virginia Citizen's Defense League. VCDL has been incredibly effective at helping Virginia gun owners protect and expand our rights.

The big one, of course? No more 1 handgun a month in Virginia. That one made the anti-gunners cry.

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SB 67 (Senator Stanley) [and HB 754 (Delegate Cline)] - prohibits localities from requiring new CHP applicants be fingerprinted. Bottom line: no fingerprinting in Virginia for CHPs, including both new applications and renewals. (VCDL did not request HB 754.)

HB 375 (Delegate Pogge) - forbids localities and their authorities, departments, and agencies from prohibiting employees storing firearms in their private vehicles while at work. Bottom line: local government employees are no longer disarmed to and from work.

SB 563 (Senator Ruff) - a "clean up" bill that fixes various things in the concealed weapon code:
* Anyone going to or from a range or to or from a training class can legally transport their concealed firearm if it is securely wrapped
* The Court must provide the exact reason for denying a CHP application
* A person may apply for a new CHP, or do a renewal, by mail
* The Court shall mail a CHP to the applicant when the CHP is ready
* Only the information that is specifically listed in the law shall be required by the Court for CHP applicants


OTHER BILLS

HB 20 (Delegate Wilt) and SB 245 (Senator Obenshain) - clarifies that firearms can be carried and transported during a state of emergency. Government emergency shelters can ban guns, however. Bottom line: during a state of emergency the state and local government can only disarm you while in a government shelter. Normal prohibitions (carrying on K-12 school grounds, for example) still apply, however.

HB 22 (Delegate Cole) - forbids localities from holding a gun buy-up without a local ordinance authorizing it. It also requires the locality to try to sell any firearms that are turned in. For firearms that cannot be sold, the locality can destroy them. Bottom line: localities have more hoops to jump through and cannot waste tax payer money when doing a gun buy-up.

HB 26 (Delegate Cole) - makes failure to produced a CHP and a photo ID when demanded by law enforcement while a CHP holder is carrying a concealed handgun a **civil** penalty of $25. Bottom line: if you forget your CHP and/or photo ID, it could cost $25 in fines (but not a crime).

HB 288, (Delegate Sherwood) - permits city or county treasurers to be able to carry in courthouses while conducting their official duties.

SB 323 (Senator Carrico) and HB 940 (Delegate Lingamfelter) - eliminates the One-Handgun-A-Month limitation completely. Bottom line: no one has to worry about committing a crime because they can't remember the exact date they purchased their last handgun and Virginia is no longer rationing a legal product.

SB 663 (Senator Smith) - makes a CHP a valid form of identification for voting purposes.

[beachprices]

Thank you for this information, Mike.