{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-299.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-299.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-299.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-299.html"}],"law_id":86389,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86389,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-299","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-268.1; 1968, c. 661; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1992, c. 580; 2004, c. 930.","full_text":"When used in this article:\n\t\t“Sawed-off shotgun” means any weapon, loaded or unloaded, originally designed as a shoulder weapon, utilizing a self-contained cartridge from which a number of ball shot pellets or projectiles may be fired simultaneously from a smooth or rifled bore by a single function of the firing device and which has a barrel length of less than 18 inches for smooth bore weapons and 16 inches for rifled weapons. Weapons of less than .225 caliber shall not be included.\n\t\t“Sawed-off rifle” means a rifle of any caliber, loaded or unloaded, which expels a projectile by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is designed as a shoulder weapon with a barrel or barrels length of less than 16 inches or which has been modified to an overall length of less than 26 inches.\n\t\t“Crime of violence” applies to and includes any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of the same, namely, murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, rape, mayhem, assault with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or kill, robbery, burglary, housebreaking, breaking and entering and larceny.\n\t\t“Person” applies to and includes firm, partnership, association or corporation.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":309382,"text":"When used in this article:\n\t\t“Sawed-off shotgun” means any weapon, loaded or unloaded, originally designed as a shoulder weapon, utilizing a self-contained cartridge from which a number of ball shot pellets or projectiles may be fired simultaneously from a smooth or rifled bore by a single function of the firing device and which has a barrel length of less than 18 inches for smooth bore weapons and 16 inches for rifled weapons. Weapons of less than .225 caliber shall not be included.\n\t\t“Sawed-off rifle” means a rifle of any caliber, loaded or unloaded, which expels a projectile by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is designed as a shoulder weapon with a barrel or barrels length of less than 16 inches or which has been modified to an overall length of less than 26 inches.\n\t\t“Crime of violence” applies to and includes any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of the same, namely, murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, rape, mayhem, assault with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or kill, robbery, burglary, housebreaking, breaking and entering and larceny.\n\t\t“Person” applies to and includes firm, partnership, association or corporation.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15698,"edition_id":1,"name":"\"Sawed-Off\" Shotgun and \"Sawed-Off\" Rifle Act","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12973,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:58:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:58:04","permalink":{"id":167081,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15698,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/7\/6","url":"\/18.2\/7\/6\/","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":86389,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-299","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-299\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-299","metadata":false},{"id":62541,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-300","catch_line":"Possession or use of \"sawed-off\" shotgun or rifle","url":"\/18.2-300\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-300","metadata":false},{"id":61278,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-301","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-301\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-301","metadata":false},{"id":60143,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-303","catch_line":"What article does not apply to","url":"\/18.2-303\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-303","metadata":false},{"id":70863,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-303.1","catch_line":"What article does not prohibit","url":"\/18.2-303.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-303.1","metadata":false},{"id":60215,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-304","catch_line":"Manufacturer's and dealer's register; inspection of stock","url":"\/18.2-304\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-304","metadata":false},{"id":73343,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-305","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-305\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-305","metadata":false},{"id":77316,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-306","catch_line":"Search warrants for \"sawed-off\" shotguns and rifles; confiscation and destruction","url":"\/18.2-306\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-306","metadata":false},{"id":61102,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-307","catch_line":"Short title of article","url":"\/18.2-307\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-307","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":62541,"structure_id":15698,"section_number":"18.2-300","catch_line":"Possession or use of \"sawed-off\" shotgun or rifle","url":"\/18.2-300\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-300","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-299\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1968, chapter 661; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1992, chapter 580; in 2004, chapter 930<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":60687,"section_number":"15.2-915.5","catch_line":"Disposition of firearms acquired by localities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-915.5\/"},{"id":57160,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-260\/"},{"id":70367,"section_number":"18.2-311.2","catch_line":"Third conviction of firearm offenses; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-311.2\/"},{"id":78541,"section_number":"19.2-83.1","catch_line":"Report of arrest of school employees and adult students for certain offenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-83.1\/"},{"id":67657,"section_number":"22.1-277.07","catch_line":"Expulsion of students under certain circumstances; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-277.07\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":167083,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86389,"identifier":"18.2-299","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-299","url":"\/18.2-299\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-299\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6\/18.2-299","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-299","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

When used in this article:\n\t\t“Sawed-off shotgun<\/span>” means any weapon, loaded or unloaded, originally designed as a shoulder weapon, utilizing a self-contained cartridge from which a number of ball shot pellets or projectiles may be fired simultaneously from a smooth or rifled bore by a single function of the firing device and which has a barrel length of less than 18 inches for smooth bore weapons and 16 inches for rifled weapons. Weapons of less than .225 caliber shall not be included.\n\t\t“Sawed-off rifle<\/span>” means a rifle of any caliber, loaded or unloaded, which expels a projectile by action of an explosion of a combustible material<\/span> and is designed as a shoulder weapon with a barrel or barrels length of less than 16 inches or which has been modified to an overall length of less than 26 inches.\n\t\t“Crime of violence<\/span>” applies to and includes any of the following crimes<\/span> or an attempt to commit any of the same, namely, murder<\/span>, manslaughter<\/span>, kidnapping, rape<\/span>, mayhem<\/span>, assault<\/span> with intent<\/span> to maim, disable, disfigure or kill, robbery<\/span>, burglary<\/span>, housebreaking, breaking and entering and larceny<\/span>.\n\t\t“Person<\/span>” applies to and includes firm, partnership, association or corporation.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 18.2-299)\n\nWhen used in this article:\n\t\t“Sawed-off shotgun” means any weapon, loaded or unloaded,\noriginally designed as a shoulder weapon, utilizing a self-contained cartridge\nfrom which a number of ball shot pellets or projectiles may be fired\nsimultaneously from a smooth or rifled bore by a single function of the firing\ndevice and which has a barrel length of less than 18 inches for smooth bore\nweapons and 16 inches for rifled weapons. Weapons of less than .225 caliber\nshall not be included.\n\t\t“Sawed-off rifle” means a rifle of any caliber, loaded or\nunloaded, which expels a projectile by action of an explosion of a combustible\nmaterial and is designed as a shoulder weapon with a barrel or barrels length of\nless than 16 inches or which has been modified to an overall length of less than\n26 inches.\n\t\t“Crime of violence” applies to and includes any of the following\ncrimes or an attempt to commit any of the same, namely, murder, manslaughter,\nkidnapping, rape, mayhem, assault with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or\nkill, robbery, burglary, housebreaking, breaking and entering and larceny.\n\t\t“Person” applies to and includes firm, partnership, association or\ncorporation.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-268.1; 1968, c. 661; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1992, c. 580;\n2004, c. 930.","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}}