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 misdemeanor 6 felony.
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.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $35,425 for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities and cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.