                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS AUTHORIZED TO REGULATE USE OF PNEUMATIC GUNS (§
15.2-915.4)

A. A locality may prohibit, by ordinance, the shooting of pneumatic guns in any
areas of the locality that are in the opinion of the governing body so heavily
populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof, and may
require supervision by a parent, guardian, or other adult supervisor approved by
a parent or guardian of any minor below the age of 16 in all uses of pneumatic
guns on private or public property. The ordinance may specify that minors above
the age of 16 may, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, use a
pneumatic gun at any place designated for such use by the local governing body
or on private property with the consent of the owner. The ordinance may specify
that any minor, whether permitted by a parent or guardian to use a pneumatic gun
or not, shall be responsible for obeying all laws, regulations and restrictions
governing such use. Any penalty for a pneumatic gun offense set forth in such an
ordinance shall not exceed a Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. No such ordinance authorized by subsection A shall prohibit the use of
pneumatic guns at facilities approved for shooting ranges, on other property
where firearms may be discharged, or on or within private property with
permission of the owner or legal possessor thereof when conducted with
reasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the
property.

C. Training of minors in the use of pneumatic guns shall be done only under
direct supervision of a parent, guardian, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps
instructor, or a certified instructor. Training of minors above the age of 16
may also be done without direct supervision if approved by the minor&#8217;s
instructor, with the permission of and under the responsibility of a parent or
guardian, and in compliance with all requirements of this section. Ranges and
instructors may be certified by the National Rifle Association, a state or
federal agency that has developed a certification program, any service of the
Department of Defense, or any person authorized by these authorities to certify
ranges and instructors.

D. Commercial or private areas designated for use of pneumatic paintball guns
may be established and operated for recreational use. Equipment designed to
protect the face and ears shall be provided to participants at such recreational
areas, and signs must be posted to warn against entry into the paintball area by
persons who are unprotected or unaware that paintball guns are in use.

E. As used in this section, &#8220;pneumatic gun&#8221; means any implement,
designed as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic
pressure. &#8220;Pneumatic gun&#8221; includes a paintball gun that expels by
action of pneumatic pressure plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of
marking the point of impact.

HISTORY: 2004, c. 930; 2011, c. 832.