Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-56.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.
A. It shall be is unlawful for any person to recklessly
leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or
limb of any child under the age of fourteen 14. Any person violating the
provisions of this subsection shall be is guilty of a Class 3 1
misdemeanor.
B. It shall be is unlawful for any person
knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve 12 to use a firearm except
when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this
subsection shall be is
guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection,
"adult" shall mean means a parent, guardian, person
standing in loco parentis to the child, or a person
twenty-one 21
years of age or over older who has the permission
of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the
child in the use of a firearm.