<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84194</law_id><section_number>18.2-308.7</section_number><catch_line>Possession or transportation of certain firearms by persons under the age of 18; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-228</reference><reference>16.1-248.1</reference><reference>18.2-308.2:1</reference><reference>18.2-308.2:2</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><p>It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport a handgun or <span class="dictionary">assault</span> firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth. For the purposes of this section, &#x201C;handgun&#x201D; means any pistol or revolver or other firearm originally designed, made and intended to fire single or multiple projectiles by means of an explosion of a combustible <span class="dictionary">material</span> from one or more barrels when held in one hand and &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">assault</span> firearm&#x201D; means any (i) semi-automatic centerfire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible <span class="dictionary">material</span> and is equipped at the time of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (ii) shotgun with a magazine which will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered. A violation of this section shall be a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>.
		This section shall not apply to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Any person (i) while in his home or on his property; (ii) while in the home or on the property of his parent, grandparent, or legal guardian; or (iii) while on the property of another who has provided prior permission, and with the prior permission of his parent or legal guardian if the person has the landowner&#x2019;s written permission on his person while on such property; <a id="paragraph-301759" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.7/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any person who, while accompanied by an adult, is at, or going to and from, a lawful shooting range or firearms educational class, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported; <a id="paragraph-301760" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.7/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or going to and from a hunting area or preserve, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported; and <a id="paragraph-301761" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.7/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any person while carrying out his duties in the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of this Commonwealth or any other state. <a id="paragraph-301762" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.7/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1993, cc. 467, 494; 2003, c. 976; 2004, c. 995.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
