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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57206</law_id><section_number>18.2-56.2</section_number><catch_line>Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-392.02</reference><reference>22.1-272.1</reference><reference>22.1-79.4</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="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Assaults and Bodily Woundings</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-209543" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-56.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an <span class="dictionary">adult</span>. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. For purposes of this subsection, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">adult</span>&#x201D; shall mean a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child or a person twenty-one years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm. <a id="paragraph-209544" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-56.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1991, c. 537; 1994, c. 832; 2020, c. 742.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
