<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72509</law_id><section_number>18.2-308.1:4</section_number><catch_line>Purchase or transportation of firearm by persons subject to protective orders; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-308.09</reference><reference>18.2-308.2:1</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 is unlawful for any person who is subject to (i) a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Preliminary protective orders in cases of family abuse; confidentiality" href="/16.1-253.1/">16.1-253.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Emergency protective orders authorized in certain cases; penalty" href="/16.1-253.4/">16.1-253.4</a>, <a class="law" title="Abused, neglected, or abandoned children or children without parental care" href="/16.1-278.2/">16.1-278.2</a>, <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Emergency protective orders authorized" href="/19.2-152.8/">19.2-152.8</a>, <a class="law" title="Preliminary protective orders" href="/19.2-152.9/">19.2-152.9</a>, or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a>; (ii) an <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Court may make orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc" href="/20-103/">20-103</a>; (iii) an <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered pursuant to subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Stalking; penalty" href="/18.2-60.3/">18.2-60.3</a>; (iv) a preliminary protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered pursuant to subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Preliminary protective order" href="/16.1-253/">16.1-253</a> where a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> alleging abuse or neglect has been filed; or (v) an <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued by a tribunal of another state, the United States or any of its territories, <span class="dictionary">possessions</span>, or commonwealths, or the District of Columbia pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">statute</span> that is substantially similar to those cited in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) to purchase or transport any firearm while the <span class="dictionary">order</span> is in effect. Any person with a concealed handgun permit shall be prohibited from carrying any concealed firearm, and shall surrender his permit to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> entering the <span class="dictionary">order</span>, for the duration of any protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> referred to herein. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-261115" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In addition to the prohibition set forth in subsection A, it is unlawful for any person who is subject to a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> or an <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued by a tribunal of another state, the United States or any of its territories, <span class="dictionary">possessions</span>, or commonwealths, or the District of Columbia pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">statute</span> that is substantially similar to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> to knowingly possess any firearm while the <span class="dictionary">order</span> is in effect, provided that for a period of 24 hours after being served with a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> in accordance with subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> such person may continue to possess and, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, transport any firearm possessed by such person at the time of service for the purposes of surrendering any such firearm to a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency in accordance with subsection C or selling or transferring any such firearm to a dealer as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms" href="/18.2-308.2_2/">18.2-308.2:2</a> or to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span> from possessing such firearm in accordance with subsection C. A violation of this subsection is a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-261116" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon issuance of a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a>, the court shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> the person who is subject to the protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> to (i) within 24 hours after being served with a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> in accordance with subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> (a) surrender any firearm possessed by such person to a designated local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency, (b) sell or transfer any firearm possessed by such person to a dealer as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms" href="/18.2-308.2_2/">18.2-308.2:2</a>, or (c) sell or transfer any firearm possessed by such person to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span> from possessing such firearm and (ii) within 48 hours after being served with a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> in accordance with subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a>, certify in writing, on a form provided by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court, that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred and file such certification with the clerk of the court that entered the protective <span class="dictionary">order</span>. The willful failure of any person to certify in writing in accordance with this section that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred or that such person does not possess any firearms shall constitute <span class="dictionary">contempt of court</span>. <a id="paragraph-261117" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The person who is subject to a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> shall be provided with the address and hours of operation of a designated local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency and the certification forms when such person is served with a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> in accordance with subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a>. <a id="paragraph-261118" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_4/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency that takes into <span class="dictionary">custody</span> a firearm surrendered to such agency pursuant to subsection C by a person who is subject to a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> shall prepare a written receipt containing the name of the person who surrendered the firearm and the manufacturer, model, and serial number of the firearm and provide a copy to such person. Any firearm surrendered to and held by a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency pursuant to subsection C shall be returned by such agency to the person who surrendered the firearm upon the expiration or dissolution of the protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a>. Such agency shall return the firearm within five days of receiving a written request for the return of the firearm by the person who surrendered the firearm and a copy of the receipt provided to such person by the agency. Prior to returning the firearm to such person, the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency holding the firearm shall confirm that such person is no longer subject to a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> and is not otherwise prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span> from possessing a firearm. A firearm surrendered to a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency pursuant to subsection C may be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposal of unclaimed firearms or other weapons in possession of sheriff or police" href="/15.2-1721/">15.2-1721</a> if (i) the person from whom the firearm was seized provides written authorization for such disposal to the agency or (ii) the firearm remains in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the agency more than 120 days after such person is no longer subject to a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a> and such person has not submitted a request in writing for the return of the firearm. <a id="paragraph-261119" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_4/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency or <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer that takes into <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, stores, possesses, or transports a firearm pursuant to this section shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for any damage to or deterioration, loss, or theft of such firearm. <a id="paragraph-261120" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_4/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> The <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies of the counties, cities, and towns within each judicial <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> shall designate, in coordination with each other, and provide to the <span class="dictionary">chief judges</span> of all <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> and district <span class="dictionary">courts</span> within the judicial <span class="dictionary">circuit</span>, one or more local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies to receive and store firearms pursuant to this section. The <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies shall provide the <span class="dictionary">chief judges</span> with a list that includes the addresses and hours of operation for any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies so designated that such addresses and hours of operation may be provided to a person served with a protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> in accordance with subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order" href="/19.2-152.10/">19.2-152.10</a>. <a id="paragraph-261121" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.1_4/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 907; 1996, c. 866; 1998, c. 569; 2001, c. 357; 2002, cc. 783, 865; 2004, c. 995; 2011, cc. 373, 402; 2013, c. 759; 2016, cc. 48, 49; 2020, cc. 1221, 1260.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
