(Effective July 1, 2027) Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-287.4
in effectIt is unlawful for any person to carry an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to law-enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties, military personnel in the performance of their official duties, any member of a cadet corps who is recognized by a public institution of higher education while such member is in the performance of sanctioned military training or such member is participating in an official ceremonial event for the Commonwealth, or any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or lawful recreational shooting activities at an established shooting range or shooting contest. Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The exemptions set forth in § 18.2-308 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the provisions of this section.
1991, c. 570; 1992, c. 790; 2003, c. 976 ; 2004, c. 995 ; 2005, c. 160 ; 2007, c. 813 ; 2016, c. 257 ; 2026, cc. 1025 , 1101 ; 2026, Sp. Sess. I, c. 1 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-287.4/Fetched: 10/16/2026