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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86450</law_id><section_number>18.2-308.1:2</section_number><catch_line>Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm by persons adjudicated legally incompetent or mentally incapacitated; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-308.013</reference><reference>18.2-308.09</reference><reference>18.2-308.2:1</reference><reference>18.2-308.2:2</reference><reference>18.2-308.2:3</reference><reference>19.2-386.28</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Other Illegal Weapons</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person who has been adjudicated (i) legally incompetent pursuant to former &#xA7; 37.1-128.02 or former &#xA7; 37.1-134, (ii) mentally incapacitated pursuant to former &#xA7; 37.1-128.1 or former &#xA7; 37.1-132, or (iii) incapacitated pursuant to Chapter 20 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-2000/">64.2-2000</a> et seq.) of Title 64.2 to purchase, possess, or transport any firearm. A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-309652" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person whose competency or capacity has been restored pursuant to former &#xA7; 37.1-134.1, former &#xA7; 37.2-1012, or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Petition for restoration, modification, or termination; effects" href="/64.2-2012/">64.2-2012</a> may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the general district court in the city or county in which he resides or, if the person is not a resident of the Commonwealth, the general district court of the city or county in which the most recent of the proceedings described in subsection A occurred to restore his right to purchase, possess or transport a firearm. A copy of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> shall be mailed or delivered to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> where the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> was filed who shall be entitled to respond and represent the interests of the Commonwealth. The court shall conduct a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> if requested by either <span class="dictionary">party</span>. If the court determines, after receiving and considering <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> concerning the circumstances regarding the disability referred to in subsection A and the person&#x2019;s criminal history, <span class="dictionary">treatment record</span>, and reputation as developed through character <span class="dictionary">witness</span> statements, <span class="dictionary">testimony</span>, or other character <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, that the person will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the relief would not be contrary to the public interest, the court shall grant the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. Any person denied relief by the general district court may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court for a <span class="dictionary">de novo</span> review of the denial. Upon a grant of relief in any court, the court shall enter a written <span class="dictionary">order</span> granting the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, in which event the provisions of subsection A do not apply. The <span class="dictionary">clerk of court</span> shall certify and forward forthwith to the Central Criminal Records Exchange, on a form provided by the Exchange, a copy of any such <span class="dictionary">order</span>. <a id="paragraph-309653" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">treatment record</span>&#x201D; shall include copies of health records detailing the petitioner&#x2019;s psychiatric history, which shall include the records pertaining to the commitment or adjudication that is the subject of the request for relief pursuant to this section. <a id="paragraph-309654" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 907; 1997, c. 921; 2004, c. 995; 2011, c. 775; 2017, c. 516.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
