Carrying Gun to Place of Religious Worship in Virginia

It is a crime to carry a gun and other dangerous weapons to and in a number of places in Virginia. One such prohibition is Carrying a Gun to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-283). 

Carrying a Gun to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia

Carrying a gun to a place of religious worship in Virginia (without a sufficient and good reason) while a meeting for religious purposes is being held is a crime (Va. Code §18.2-283). The weapons banned include guns, pistols, bowie knives, daggers, or other dangerous weapons. This offense is a Class 4 misdemeanor and is punished with a fine as high as $250.

The Commonwealth can prove this offense by showing that an offender:

• carried
• a gun
• without a good and sufficient reason
• to a place of religious worship
• while a meeting for religious purposes is taking place

A handgun is a pistol, revolver or other firearm (except a machine gun), originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile by an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand.

A pistol is a weapon designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile from one or more barrels when held in one hand, and having: a chamber as an integral part of, or permanently aligned with, the bore and a short stock designed to be gripped by one hand at an angle to and extending below the line of the bore(s).

A revolver is a handgun with a revolving cylinder and is operated by pulling the trigger which rotates the cylinder and cocks the hammer, causing the gun to fire.

A firearm is an instrument that was designed, made, and intended to expel a projectile by means of an explosion.

A machine gun is a gun which fires more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger.

A weapon is an instrument of offensive or defensive combat or something to fight with.

 

For more information on firearms in Virginia, click here.

For more information on dangerous weapons in Virginia, click here.

For more information on carrying a handgun into a place of religious worship in Virginia, click here.

For more information on carrying a pistol into a place of religious worship in Virginia, click here.

For more information on carrying a revolver into a place of religious worship in Virginia, click here.

For more information on carrying a firearm into a place of religious worship in Virginia, click here.

For more information on dangerous weapons in Virginia, click here.

For more information on carrying other dangerous weapons into a place of religious worship in Virginia, click here.

For more general information on carrying weapons in public places in Virginia, click here.

For more general information on carrying firearms in public places in Virginia, click here.

 

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