Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess in Virginia.’ Who Can Have a Gun. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 19 April

Relevant contents

Minimum Age to Purchase and Possess in Virginia

Virginia prohibits any person under age 18 from knowingly and intentionally possessing or transporting a handgun or assault firearm, or a shotgun "which will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered," anywhere in Virginia. This section does not apply to any person:

- While in his or her home or on his or her property or in the home or on the property of his or her parent, grandparent, or legal guardian;
- On another person's property if he or she has the landowner's written permission on his or her person while on such property, and his or her parent or legal guardian has granted permission;
- Who, while accompanied by an adult, is at, or going to and from, a lawful shooting range or firearms educational class, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported; or
- Actually engaged in lawful hunting or going to and from a hunting area or preserve, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported.

Virginia law also prohibits anyone from furnishing a handgun to a person under age 18, having good cause to believe that he or she is a minor. This rule does not apply to a transfer made between family members or for the purpose of engaging in a sporting event or activity.

There is no minimum age to purchase or possess rifles in Virginia.

Federal age restrictions impose stricter limits…

[Editor's note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its webpages with new data as US gun regulation evolves state by state. For the most up-to-date information on US gun laws, please refer to the Giffords URL below]

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https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/minimum-age-to-purchase-possess-in-virginia/