An Act to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-57, 18.2-308.2, and 18.2-308.2:2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, or explosives or carrying of concealed weapons by persons convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime prohibited; penalty.
HB1015 amends Virginia law to expand the consequences for people convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes by restricting their ability to possess, transport, or carry firearms, ammunition, stun weapons, explosives, and concealed weapons. The bill updates multiple sections of the Code of Virginia, including the assault and battery statute and the firearms/disqualifying-offenses statutes, to make a misdemeanor hate-crime conviction a prohibited status for certain weapons-related conduct.
The bill is tied to Virginia’s existing hate-crime framework in § 18.2-57, which already enhances penalties when an assault or battery is committed because of a victim’s race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin. HB1015 adds a weapons-related penalty layer by connecting those misdemeanor hate-crime convictions to firearm and concealed-carry restrictions, and it also carries a penalty provision for violations of the new prohibition.
HB1015 changes state law by amending §§ 18.2-57, 18.2-308.2, and 18.2-308.2:2 of the Code of Virginia. Its practical effect is to treat persons convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime as disqualified from possessing or transporting firearms, ammunition, stun weapons, or explosives, and from carrying concealed weapons, thereby expanding the list of conduct and persons subject to Virginia’s weapons restrictions. The bill affects individuals convicted under the hate-crime assault and battery provisions and law enforcement/courts enforcing firearms and concealed-carry prohibitions.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 1084, which suggests it had sufficient support to pass and become law. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of floor debate or amendment disputes in the supplied materials. Based on the enacted status and the bill’s subject matter, the overall sentiment appears to have been favorable enough for passage, with the bill framed as a public-safety measure.
The main point of potential contention is the expansion of collateral consequences for misdemeanor hate-crime convictions into firearms and concealed-weapon restrictions. Supporters would likely view the bill as a targeted public-safety response to bias-motivated violence, while opponents could argue that it adds punitive restrictions beyond the underlying misdemeanor offense and raises concerns about proportionality and gun rights. Because no discussion transcripts were provided, the specific arguments of legislators or stakeholders are not available in the record.