Carrying a Dangerous Weapon to a Place of Religious Worship
Despite the fact that Virginia is an open carry state, it is still a crime to carry firearms and other dangerous weapons to and in a number of different places in Virginia. Some of these places include places of religious worship, courthouses, Capitol Square, buildings owned or leased by the Commonwealth, offices where Commonwealth employees are regularly present to perform their official duties, airpot terminals, and carrying a loaded firearm in public places. For more information on Carrying a Dangerous Weapons to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia under Va. Code §18.2-283, see below.
Carrying a Dangerous Weapon to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia
The Charge of Carrying a Dangerous Weapon to a Place of Religious Worship in Virginia is a Crime
Carrying a dangerous weapon to a place of religious worship in Virginia (without a good and sufficient reason) while a meeting for religious purposes is being held is a crime. The weapons banned include guns, pistols, bowie knives, daggers, or other dangerous weapons. This offense is a Class 4 misdemeanor punished with a fine up to $250.
The Commonwealth can convict an offender of this crime by proving that he or she:
- carried
- a gun, pistol, bowie knife, dagger, or other dangerous weapon
- without good and sufficient reason
- to a place of religious worship
- while a meeting for religious purposes is being held
- at such place
A handgun is any pistol or revolver or other firearm, except a machine gun, originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile by means of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand.
A pistol is a weapon originally 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 andcocks 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 bowie knife in Virginia is a large hunting knife adapted for knife-fighting with a 10 to 15 inch long blade.
A dagger in Virginia refers to a short knife used for stabbing.
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.
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