Each of these nine states has its own specific regulations regarding capacity limits, prohibited acts of high-capacity shippers, and the treatment of high-capacity used shippers. In Colorado, for example, the capacity for legal journals is 15 rounds. It is illegal to sell, transfer or own high-capacity magazines, and the high-capacity magazines used are grandfathered (authorized). Some states and the District of Columbia do not allow high-capacity used magazines to be grandfathered. High-capacity magazines that belonged before the introduction of the law are still illegal. In addition, when the federal law expired, police discovered more previously banned high-capacity magazines on the street. Weapons equipped with high-capacity magazines “have increased significantly since the expiration of the federal ban in proportion to criminal weapons,” Koper and his co-authors wrote. The Virginia Constitution protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms from government violations. [19] The Commonwealth of Virginia prejudges local regulation of several aspects of firearms, although some local regulations are explicitly permitted. Virginia passed the Uniform Machine Gun Act, drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.
[20] [21] The only prohibited firearms in Virginia are the Armsel Striker, also known as the Striker 12, similar shotguns, and all “plastic firearms.” Firearms must contain at least 3.7 ounces of electromagnetically detectable metal in the barrel, slide, cylinder, frame or receiver and, in the case of X-ray equipment, produce an image that accurately represents their shape. [22] For example, Glock pistols that have polymer frames and metal rails and barrels are legal. There are no capacity restrictions on magazines, except that a Secret Handgun (CHP) permit is required to carry magazines larger than 20 rounds in certain urban public spaces. [1] [2] Virginia has no law restricting magazines of high-capacity ammunition. Virginia law prohibits the carrying of certain high-powered loaded firearms in public places in certain cities. Large-capacity magazines allow a shooter to shoot repeatedly without taking the time to reload, which increases the shooter`s ability to injure and kill a large number of people in a short time. High-capacity magazines have been used in most of the ten deadliest mass shootings in the United States over the past decade. In 2017, the Las Vegas shooter was able to fire 90 shots in ten seconds without having to reload. He used an assault rifle with a hump stick and a high-capacity magazine. The gunman killed 50 people and wounded hundreds.
“More than half of the high-death shootings in the last 30 years involved high-capacity magazines,” said Louis Klarevas, author of the book Rampage Nation, adding that large magazines “correlate with higher death tolls.” If a shooter only has magazines containing 10 rounds or less, they will have to reload more frequently, giving passers-by more opportunities to flee, seek shelter or intervene. The gunman who killed 12 people at a Virginia Beach city building on May 31 was armed with two handguns and several high-capacity magazines. His weapons allowed him to engage in a “long-term shootout” with police before being shot. A nationwide ban on assault weapons from 1994 to 2004 prohibited the purchase and sale of magazines that could hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. A Washington Post analysis of Virginia state police records found that seizures of high-capacity magazines have steadily declined with the passage of federal law. In 1997, state police seized 944 handguns with high-capacity magazines, but by 2004 that number had dropped to just 452. However, when the ban expired, police saw the trend reversed: in 2009, Virginia law enforcement seized 986 such handguns. Koper is a co-author of an article that examined the effectiveness of state laws in limiting the capacity of magazines. He found similar results. To conduct their research, Koper and colleagues analyzed weapons seizure data in 10 cities across the country for the prevalence of high-capacity magazines. Carrying a handgun openly without a license is legal in Virginia at the age of 18, regardless of other applicable laws.
Concealed carrying of a handgun is permitted to persons who hold a valid CHP (Secret Handgun Licence), who comply with certain restrictions or who occupy certain positions. Virginia issues a CHP to applicants 21 years of age and older as long as they meet certain safety training requirements and do not have disqualifying conditions under Virginia Code § 18.2-308.09. [28] [29] The consumption of an alcoholic beverage in local restaurants and clubs with an ABC licence while keeping a hidden handgun is prohibited. In addition, no one is allowed to carry a handgun hidden in a public place under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs (exceptions for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies). Any person authorized to carry a hidden firearm is not allowed to carry one in a public place while intoxicated. Possession of a firearm can exacerbate the penalty for a variety of other offences, including possession of illegal drugs. Open wearing while intoxicated is not regulated by law and can be considered legal unless otherwise stated. [30] [1] [2] [31] High-capacity ammunition magazines in Virginia do not have a law restricting high-capacity ammunition magazines. Virginia law prohibits the carrying of certain high-powered loaded firearms in public places in certain cities. [Editor`s Note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its websites with new data as U.S. gun regulations evolve from state to state.
For the most up-to-date information on U.S. gun laws, see giffords URL below] Last accessed at: giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/large-capacity-magazines-in-virginia/ The federal ban on high-capacity magazines has ended.