{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-307.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-307.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-307.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-307.1.html"}],"law_id":85552,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85552,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-307.1","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"2013, c. 746.","full_text":"As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Ballistic knife” means any knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.\n\t\t“Handgun” means any pistol or revolver or other firearm, except a machine gun, originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile by means of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand.\n\t\t“Law-enforcement officer” means those individuals defined as a law-enforcement officer in \u00a7 9.1-101, law-enforcement agents of the armed forces of the United States and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and federal agents who are otherwise authorized to carry weapons by federal law. “Law-enforcement officer” also means any sworn full-time law-enforcement officer employed by a law-enforcement agency of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof, whose duties are substantially similar to those set forth in \u00a7 9.1-101.\n\t\t“Lawfully admitted for permanent residence” means the status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws, such status not having changed.\n\t\t“Personal knowledge” means knowledge of a fact that a person has himself gained through his own senses, or knowledge that was gained by a law-enforcement officer or prosecutor through the performance of his official duties.\n\t\t“Spring stick” means a spring-loaded metal stick activated by pushing a button that rapidly and forcefully telescopes the weapon to several times its original length.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":306492,"text":"As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Ballistic knife” means any knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.\n\t\t“Handgun” means any pistol or revolver or other firearm, except a machine gun, originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile by means of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand.\n\t\t“Law-enforcement officer” means those individuals defined as a law-enforcement officer in \u00a7 9.1-101, law-enforcement agents of the armed forces of the United States and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and federal agents who are otherwise authorized to carry weapons by federal law. “Law-enforcement officer” also means any sworn full-time law-enforcement officer employed by a law-enforcement agency of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof, whose duties are substantially similar to those set forth in \u00a7 9.1-101.\n\t\t“Lawfully admitted for permanent residence” means the status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws, such status not having changed.\n\t\t“Personal knowledge” means knowledge of a fact that a person has himself gained through his own senses, or knowledge that was gained by a law-enforcement officer or prosecutor through the performance of his official duties.\n\t\t“Spring stick” means a spring-loaded metal stick activated by pushing a button that rapidly and forcefully telescopes the weapon to several times its original 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penalty","url":"\/18.2-308\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308","metadata":false},{"id":78687,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.01","catch_line":"Carrying a concealed handgun with a permit","url":"\/18.2-308.01\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.01","metadata":false},{"id":57991,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.010","catch_line":"Renewal of concealed handgun permit","url":"\/18.2-308.010\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.010","metadata":false},{"id":54818,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.011","catch_line":"Replacement permits","url":"\/18.2-308.011\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.011","metadata":false},{"id":56622,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.012","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct","url":"\/18.2-308.012\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.012","metadata":false},{"id":76584,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.013","catch_line":"Suspension or revocation of permit","url":"\/18.2-308.013\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.013","metadata":false},{"id":54156,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.014","catch_line":"Reciprocity","url":"\/18.2-308.014\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.014","metadata":false},{"id":77380,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.015","catch_line":"Inclusion of Supreme Court website on application","url":"\/18.2-308.015\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.015","metadata":false},{"id":77788,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.016","catch_line":"Retired law-enforcement officers; carrying a concealed handgun","url":"\/18.2-308.016\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.016","metadata":false},{"id":54280,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.02","catch_line":"Application for a concealed handgun permit; Virginia resident or domiciliary","url":"\/18.2-308.02\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.02","metadata":false},{"id":73895,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.03","catch_line":"Fees for concealed handgun permits","url":"\/18.2-308.03\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.03","metadata":false},{"id":82888,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.04","catch_line":"Processing of the application and issuance of a concealed handgun permit","url":"\/18.2-308.04\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.04","metadata":false},{"id":60909,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.05","catch_line":"Issuance of a de facto permit","url":"\/18.2-308.05\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.05","metadata":false},{"id":67217,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.06","catch_line":"Nonresident concealed handgun permits","url":"\/18.2-308.06\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.06","metadata":false},{"id":71655,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.07","catch_line":"Entry of information into the Virginia Criminal Information Network","url":"\/18.2-308.07\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.07","metadata":false},{"id":73002,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.08","catch_line":"Denial of a concealed handgun permit; appeal","url":"\/18.2-308.08\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.08","metadata":false},{"id":85822,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.09","catch_line":"Disqualifications for a concealed handgun permit","url":"\/18.2-308.09\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.09","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":56600,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308","catch_line":"Carrying concealed weapons; exceptions; penalty","url":"\/18.2-308\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-307.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2013. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 746<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":57160,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-260\/"},{"id":86129,"section_number":"17.1-405","catch_line":"Appellate jurisdiction \u2014 Administrative agency, Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, and civil matter appeals","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-405\/"},{"id":72106,"section_number":"18.2-311","catch_line":"Prohibiting the selling or having in possession blackjacks, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-311\/"},{"id":59318,"section_number":"18.2-57.3","catch_line":"Persons charged with first offense of assault and battery against a family or household member may be placed on local community-based probation; conditions; education and treatment programs; costs and fees; violations; discharge","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57.3\/"},{"id":84672,"section_number":"19.2-386.27","catch_line":"Forfeiture of firearms carried in violation of Article 6.1 (\u00a7 18.2-307.1 et seq.)","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-386.27\/"},{"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":66057,"section_number":"44-39.1","catch_line":"Possession of handguns by members at National Guard facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/44-39.1\/"},{"id":80366,"section_number":"9.1-141","catch_line":"Powers of Board relating to private security services business","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-141\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73488,"section_number":"9.1-101","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":167121,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85552,"identifier":"18.2-307.1","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-307.1","url":"\/18.2-307.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-307.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-307.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-307.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Ballistic knife<\/span>” means any knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.\n\t\t“Handgun<\/span>” means any pistol or revolver or other firearm, except a machine gun, originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile by means of an explosion of a combustible material<\/span> from one or more barrels when held in one hand.\n\t\t“Law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>” means those individuals defined as a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> in \u00a7 9.1-101<\/a>, law<\/span>-enforcement agents of the armed forces of the United States and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and federal agents who are otherwise authorized to carry weapons by federal law<\/span>. “Law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>” also means any sworn full-time law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> employed by a law<\/span>-enforcement agency of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof, whose duties are substantially similar to those set forth in \u00a7 9.1-101<\/a>.\n\t\t“Lawfully admitted for permanent residence<\/span>” means the status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege<\/span> of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws<\/span>, such status not having changed.\n\t\t“Personal knowledge<\/span>” means knowledge of a fact<\/span> that a person has himself gained through his own senses, or knowledge that was gained by a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> or prosecutor through the performance of his official duties.\n\t\t“Spring stick<\/span>” means a spring-loaded metal stick activated by pushing a button that rapidly and forcefully telescopes the weapon to several times its original length.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 18.2-307.1)\n\nAs used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Ballistic knife” means any knife with a detachable blade that is\npropelled by a spring-operated mechanism.\n\t\t“Handgun” means any pistol or revolver or other firearm, except a\nmachine gun, originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile by\nmeans of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when\nheld in one hand.\n\t\t“Law-enforcement officer” means those individuals defined as a\nlaw-enforcement officer in \u00a7 9.1-101, law-enforcement agents of the armed\nforces of the United States and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and\nfederal agents who are otherwise authorized to carry weapons by federal law.\n“Law-enforcement officer” also means any sworn full-time\nlaw-enforcement officer employed by a law-enforcement agency of the United\nStates or any state or political subdivision thereof, whose duties are\nsubstantially similar to those set forth in \u00a7 9.1-101.\n\t\t“Lawfully admitted for permanent residence” means the status of\nhaving been lawfully accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the\nUnited States as an immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws, such\nstatus not having changed.\n\t\t“Personal knowledge” means knowledge of a fact that a person has\nhimself gained through his own senses, or knowledge that was gained by a\nlaw-enforcement officer or prosecutor through the performance of his official\nduties.\n\t\t“Spring stick” means a spring-loaded metal stick activated by\npushing a button that rapidly and forcefully telescopes the weapon to several\ntimes its original length.\n\nHISTORY: 2013, c. 746.","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}}