Virginia

Decoded

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§ 18.2-290 Use of machine gun for aggressive purpose

Unlawful possession or use of a machine gun for an offensive or aggressive purpose is hereby declared to be a Class 4 felony.

History

The record of this law’s original creation isn’t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1968, chapter 229; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15.

Code 1950, § 18.1-260; 1960, c. 358; 1968, c. 229; 1975, cc. 14, 15.

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What This Is

This is a law from the Code of Virginia. This is the actual, unchanged text of one of the many laws that govern Virginia.

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If you’re reading this for anything important, you should double-check its accuracy—read § 18.2-290 on the official Code of Virginia website.

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Court Decisions

. . . Rasheed Daniel Fleming, s/k/a Rasheed N. Fleming v. . . . (COA, 06/10/25)
. . . COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA . . .
Sean Marquise Hughes v. Commonwealth of Virginia (COA, 03/24/26)
. . . COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA . . .

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Amendment Attempts

HB1515: Auto sear; prohibition on use penalty. (failed)
HB1714: Assault and battery; serious bodily injury; penalty. (failed)
HB2310: Use of communications system to expose sexual or genital parts to a child; penalty. (passed)
HB2456: Discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints; violent felony offenses. (failed)
HB2485: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties. (failed)
HB2491: Assault and battery; serious bodily injury, penalty. (failed)
SB970: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties. (failed)
HB244: Robbery; conforms certain provisions of Code to degrees of robbery offenses.
HB251: Assault and battery; creates Class 6 felony for serious bodily injury. (failed)
HB642: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report. (failed)
SB542: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report.
SB671: Cannabis control; retail market; penalties.
SB826: Marijuana; creates framework for retail sales.