{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-280.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-280.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-280.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-280.html"}],"law_id":83677,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83677,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-280","catch_line":"Willfully discharging firearms in public places","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-69; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1992, c. 735; 1999, c. 996; 2001, c. 712; 2005, c. 928.","full_text":"A\n\nIf any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm in any street in a city or town, or in any place of public business or place of public gathering, and such conduct results in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. If such conduct does not result in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.B\n\nIf any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm upon the buildings and grounds of any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony, unless he is engaged in a program or curriculum sponsored by or conducted with permission of a public, private or religious school.C\n\nIf any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm upon any public property within 1,000 feet of the property line of any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school property he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony, unless he is engaged in lawful hunting.D\n\nThis section shall not apply to any law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties nor to any other person whose said willful act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of his life or property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law.E\n\nNothing in this statute shall preclude the Commonwealth from electing to prosecute under any other applicable provision of law instead of this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":299926,"text":"If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm in any street in a city or town, or in any place of public business or place of public gathering, and such conduct results in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. If such conduct does not result in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":299927,"text":"If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm upon the buildings and grounds of any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony, unless he is engaged in a program or curriculum sponsored by or conducted with permission of a public, private or religious school.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":299928,"text":"If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm upon any public property within 1,000 feet of the property line of any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school property he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony, unless he is engaged in lawful hunting.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":299929,"text":"This section shall not apply to any law-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties nor to any other person whose said willful act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of his life or property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":299930,"text":"Nothing in this statute shall preclude the Commonwealth from electing to prosecute under any other applicable provision of law instead of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13796,"edition_id":1,"name":"Dangerous Use of Firearms or Other Weapons","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12973,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:54","permalink":{"id":166953,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13796,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/7\/4","url":"\/18.2\/7\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12973,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Health and Safety","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":166501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12973,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/7","url":"\/18.2\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62694,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-279","catch_line":"Discharging firearms or missiles within or at building or dwelling house; penalty","url":"\/18.2-279\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-279","metadata":false},{"id":83677,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-280","catch_line":"Willfully discharging firearms in public places","url":"\/18.2-280\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-280","metadata":false},{"id":86429,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-281","catch_line":"Setting spring gun or other deadly weapon","url":"\/18.2-281\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-281","metadata":false},{"id":73757,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-282","catch_line":"Pointing, holding, or brandishing firearm, air or gas operated weapon or object similar in appearance; penalty","url":"\/18.2-282\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-282","metadata":false},{"id":54804,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-282.1","catch_line":"Brandishing a machete or other bladed weapon with intent to intimidate; penalty","url":"\/18.2-282.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-282.1","metadata":false},{"id":71593,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-283","catch_line":"Carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship","url":"\/18.2-283\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-283","metadata":false},{"id":60587,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-283.1","catch_line":"Carrying weapon into courthouse","url":"\/18.2-283.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-283.1","metadata":false},{"id":80457,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-283.2","catch_line":"Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-283.2\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-283.2","metadata":false},{"id":55012,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-284","catch_line":"Selling or giving toy firearms","url":"\/18.2-284\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-284","metadata":false},{"id":72975,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-285","catch_line":"Hunting with firearms while under influence of intoxicant or narcotic drug; penalty","url":"\/18.2-285\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-285","metadata":false},{"id":58111,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-286","catch_line":"Shooting in or across road or in street","url":"\/18.2-286\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-286","metadata":false},{"id":86343,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-286.1","catch_line":"Shooting from vehicles so as to endanger persons; penalty","url":"\/18.2-286.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-286.1","metadata":false},{"id":79205,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-287","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-287\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-287","metadata":false},{"id":70707,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-287.01","catch_line":"Carrying weapon in air carrier airport terminal","url":"\/18.2-287.01\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-287.01","metadata":false},{"id":77735,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-287.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-287.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-287.1","metadata":false},{"id":66302,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-287.2","catch_line":"Wearing of body armor while committing a crime; penalty","url":"\/18.2-287.2\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-287.2","metadata":false},{"id":67438,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-287.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-287.3\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-287.3","metadata":false},{"id":74480,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-287.4","catch_line":"Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty","url":"\/18.2-287.4\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-287.4","metadata":false},{"id":71320,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-287.5","catch_line":"Reporting lost or stolen firearms; civil penalty","url":"\/18.2-287.5\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-287.5","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62694,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-279","catch_line":"Discharging firearms or missiles within or at building or dwelling house; penalty","url":"\/18.2-279\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-279","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86429,"structure_id":13796,"section_number":"18.2-281","catch_line":"Setting spring gun or other deadly weapon","url":"\/18.2-281\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-281","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-280\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1992, chapter 735; in 1999, chapter 996<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 712<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 928<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":85822,"section_number":"18.2-308.09","catch_line":"Disqualifications for a concealed handgun permit","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.09\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":166959,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83677,"identifier":"18.2-280","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-280","url":"\/18.2-280\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-280\/","token":"18.2\/7\/4\/18.2-280","dublin_core":{"Title":"Willfully discharging firearms in public places","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-280","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm in any street in a city or town, or in any place of public business or place of public gathering, and such conduct results in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. If such conduct does not result in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm upon the buildings and grounds of any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony<\/span>, unless he is engaged in a program or curriculum sponsored by or conducted with permission of a public, private or religious school. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm upon any public property within 1,000 feet of the property line of any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school property he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony<\/span>, unless he is engaged in lawful hunting. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> This section shall not apply to any law<\/span>-enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties nor to any other person whose said willful act is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law<\/span> in the protection of his life or property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Nothing in this statute<\/span> shall preclude the Commonwealth from electing to prosecute<\/span> under any other applicable provision of law<\/span> instead of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWILLFULLY DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN PUBLIC PLACES (\u00a7 18.2-280)\n\nA. If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm in\nany street in a city or town, or in any place of public business or place of\npublic gathering, and such conduct results in bodily injury to another person,\nhe shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. If such conduct does not result in\nbodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nB. If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm\nupon the buildings and grounds of any public, private or religious elementary,\nmiddle or high school, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony, unless he is\nengaged in a program or curriculum sponsored by or conducted with permission of\na public, private or religious school.\n\nC. If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm\nupon any public property within 1,000 feet of the property line of any public,\nprivate or religious elementary, middle or high school property he shall be\nguilty of a Class 4 felony, unless he is engaged in lawful hunting.\n\nD. This section shall not apply to any law-enforcement officer in the\nperformance of his official duties nor to any other person whose said willful\nact is otherwise justifiable or excusable at law in the protection of his life\nor property, or is otherwise specifically authorized by law.\n\nE. Nothing in this statute shall preclude the Commonwealth from electing to\nprosecute under any other applicable provision of law instead of this section.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-69; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1992, c. 735;\n1999, c. 996; 2001, c. 712; 2005, c. 928.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}