Carrying a Pistol to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia

It is a crime to carry a pistol and other dangerous weapons to and in a number of places in Virginia. One such place at which the carrying of a pistol is prohibited is a place of religious worship. For more information on Carrying a Pistol to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-283), see below.

Carrying a Pistol to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia

Carrying a pistol to a place of religious worship in Virginia (without a good and sufficient reason) while a meeting for religious purposes is taking place is a crime (Va. Code §18.2-283). This offense is a Class 4 misdemeanor and it is punished with a fine up to $250.

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

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

A pistol is a weapon that is 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).

This statute also bans carrying other weapons to places of religious worship in Virginia. The banned weapons include guns (including revolvers), daggers, bowie knives, and other dangerous weapons.

For more information on handguns in Virginia, click here.

For more information on revolvers in Virginia, click here.

For more information on daggers in Virginia, click here.

For more information on bowie knives in Virginia, click here.

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

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

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

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

For more information on carrying a bowie knife to a place of religious worship in Virginia, click here.

For more information on carrying a dangerous weapon to 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 information on carrying firearms in public places in Virginia, click here.

 

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