HB 1079

            
2020 SESSION

20104672D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1079


Offered January 8, 2020


Prefiled January 7, 2020

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section 
 numbered 18.2-283.2, relating to possession of weapons; Capitol Square and 
 legislative buildings; penalties.
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Patron-- Hope

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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
 
 
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section 
 numbered 18.2-283.2 as follows:
 
 
� 18.2-283.2. 
 Possession of weapons in the 
 Capitol of Virginia, Capitol Square, and legislative 
 buildings; 
 penalties.
 
 
A. For 
 the purposes of this section, "Capitol Square" means the grounds in 
 the City of Richmond bounded by Bank, Governor, Broad, and Ninth Streets. 
 
 
B. No 
 person shall possess a (i) firearm or other 
 weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) 
 frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile, or ammunition designed 
 for use with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) other dangerous 
 weapon, including explosives, stun weapons as defined in � 18.2-308.1, and 
 those weapons specified in subsection A of � 18.2-308 
 while in (a) the 
 Capitol of Virginia, (b) Capitol Square, (c) any 
 other building owned or leased by 
 the Commonwealth and used predominantly for the conduct of the business of the 
 General Assembly, or (d) any 
 other building where the General Assembly is meeting in session. Any 
 person violating this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. A 
 second or subsequent violation of this 
 section is punishable as a Class 
 1 misdemeanor.
 
 
B. The 
 provisions of this section shall not apply to any law-enforcement 
 officer, as defined in � 9.1-101, authorized 
 security personnel, or active-duty military 
 personnel in the performance of such 
 persons lawful duties.
 
 
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 $0 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.