A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required.
HB694 would amend Virginia’s concealed-carry law to create a broader permitless concealed handgun option. Under the bill, a person who may lawfully carry a handgun openly in Virginia and who is otherwise qualified to obtain a concealed handgun permit could also carry that handgun concealed without first obtaining a permit. The bill states that such a person would not need to satisfy the usual application requirements in the concealed handgun permit statutes referenced in § 18.2-308.
The measure also retains and restates the existing list of exceptions to Virginia’s concealed-weapon prohibition, including exemptions for carrying in one’s home or business, for law-enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, certain government personnel, and other specified circumstances such as transport to a range, repair shop, or hunting activity. In effect, the bill would expand lawful concealed carry for eligible adults while leaving the broader structure of prohibited weapons and existing exemptions in place.
If enacted, HB694 would materially change § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia by removing the permit requirement for a defined class of handgun carriers—those who may lawfully open carry and are otherwise eligible for a concealed handgun permit. That would reduce the role of the concealed handgun permit system for those individuals and likely affect permit issuance, enforcement, and prosecution under Virginia’s concealed-weapon laws. The bill does not eliminate the concealed-carry permitting framework entirely; rather, it creates an additional path to lawful concealed carry while preserving the statute’s misdemeanor and felony penalties for unauthorized concealed weapons possession and its existing exemptions for certain persons and settings.
The available legislative history suggests the bill was controversial and did not advance out of committee. HB694 was tabled in the House Committee on Public Safety by a 15-7 vote, indicating that a majority of committee members opposed moving it forward. No committee transcript is available, but the vote outcome suggests the bill faced substantial skepticism, likely reflecting the broader policy divide over permitless concealed carry and firearm regulation.
The main point of contention is whether Virginia should allow concealed handgun carry without a permit for people who are already legally allowed to open carry and who otherwise qualify for a permit. Supporters would likely view the bill as reducing regulatory burden and aligning concealed carry with lawful open carry rights, while opponents would likely argue that the permit process serves as an important screening and safety mechanism. The bill also sits within a statute that includes many categorical exemptions for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, and other officials, which may have reinforced debate over who should be exempt from permitting requirements and whether the proposed expansion should apply more broadly to ordinary gun owners.