An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-308.7:1, relating to storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty.
HB871 adds a new section to the Virginia Code requiring firearm owners who know that a minor or a person legally prohibited from possessing a firearm is present in the residence to store the firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that the minor or prohibited person cannot access, or to render the firearm incapable of firing with an appropriate gun locking device. The bill allows a firearm to be stored loaded if it is kept in a storage device with a combination, coded, or biometric lock and the minor or prohibited person is not an authorized user of that lock. A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
The bill includes several exceptions. It does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a firearm on their person, or to antique firearms. It also preserves the ability to lawfully authorize a minor to access a firearm under existing law. In addition, the bill requires firearms dealers to post a notice describing the new storage requirement and penalty.
HB871 creates a new criminal offense in Virginia for unsafe firearm storage in homes where the owner knows a minor or prohibited person is present, and it adds a dealer posting requirement. It affects firearm owners, households with children or prohibited persons, and licensed dealers by imposing a storage standard and a conspicuous warning notice. The bill also reinforces existing child-access and firearm possession laws by cross-referencing current statutory definitions and exceptions.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so the available record does not show debate or partisan division. Based on the enacted text, the bill appears to reflect a public-safety approach focused on preventing unauthorized access to firearms in the home while preserving limited lawful uses and exceptions. The absence of recorded opposition or amendment history in the provided materials limits assessment of broader sentiment.
The main policy tension in HB871 is between firearm safety and household access versus concerns about criminalizing storage practices in private homes. Potential points of contention include the new misdemeanor penalty, the requirement to lock or disable firearms when minors or prohibited persons are present, and the dealer posting mandate. Supporters would likely emphasize preventing accidental shootings and unauthorized access, while critics may focus on enforcement in the home, burdens on lawful gun owners, and the scope of the storage requirement.