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.
B. It is unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child four years of age or younger to use or handle a firearm under any circumstances. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. It
shall be is unlawful
for any person knowingly to authorize a child five
years of age or older but 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
or over of
age or 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.