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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56507</law_id><section_number>44-146.15</section_number><catch_line>Construction of chapter</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="44">Military and Emergency Laws</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Emergency Services and Disaster Law</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Nothing in this chapter is to be construed to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Limit, modify, or abridge the authority of the Governor to exercise any powers vested in him under other <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of this Commonwealth independent of, or in conjunction with, any provisions of this chapter; <a id="paragraph-206851" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/44-146.15/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Interfere with dissemination of news or comment on public affairs; but any communications facility or organization, including, but not limited to, radio and television stations, wire services, and newspapers, may be required to transmit or print public service messages furnishing information or instructions in connection with actual or pending <span class="dictionary">disaster</span>; <a id="paragraph-206852" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/44-146.15/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Empower the Governor, any <span class="dictionary">political subdivision</span>, or any other governmental authority to in any way limit or prohibit the rights of the people to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by Article I, Section 13 of the Constitution of Virginia or the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, including the otherwise lawful <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, carrying, transportation, sale, or transfer of firearms except to the extent necessary to ensure public safety in any place or facility designated or used by the Governor, any <span class="dictionary">political subdivision</span> of the Commonwealth, or any other governmental entity as an <span class="dictionary">emergency</span> shelter or for the purpose of sheltering persons; <a id="paragraph-206853" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/44-146.15/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Affect the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> or responsibilities of police forces, firefighting forces, units of the armed forces of the United States or any personnel thereof, when on active duty; but state, local and interjurisdictional agencies for <span class="dictionary">emergency services</span> shall place reliance upon such forces in the event of declared <span class="dictionary">disasters</span>; or <a id="paragraph-206854" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/44-146.15/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Interfere with the course of conduct of a labor dispute except that actions otherwise authorized by this chapter or other <span class="dictionary">laws</span> may be taken when necessary to forestall or mitigate imminent or existing danger to public health or safety. <a id="paragraph-206855" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/44-146.15/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1973, c. 260; 2000, c. 309; 2006, c. 458; 2012, cc. 42, 158.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
