Firearms; removing, altering, etc., serial number, selling, etc., or possessing.
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SB 643 — Firearms; removing, altering, etc., serial number, selling, etc., or possessing.
Last action — Left in Public Safety
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House of Delegates
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Removing, altering, etc., serial number on firearm; selling, giving, etc., or possessing firearm with removed, altered, etc., serial number; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly possess any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm, except for an antique firearm, that has a serial number that has been removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner. The bill also makes it a Class 6 felony for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly sell, give, or distribute any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or other firearm, except for an antique firearm, that has a serial number that has been removed, defaced, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
26 added · 26 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendment to Senate Bill 643 updates the penalties for the illegal alteration or removal of serial numbers from firearms. Previously, possessing or selling a firearm with a removed or altered serial number could result in a Class 1 misdemeanor, but now these offenses are upgraded to a Class 6 felony for selling or distributing such firearms. This change aims to create stricter consequences and underscore the importance of maintaining proper firearm identification, which is crucial for law enforcement and public safety.
SESSION SENATE SUBSTITUTE 22106305D22106493D SENATE BILL NO.
643 FLOOR AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed(Proon by the Seon February 10,14, 2022)ance2022)eph and Appropriations (Patron Prior to Substitute––Senator Ebbin) A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-311.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to removing, altering, etc., serial number;
It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation who or which to knowingly and intentionally removes, defaces, alters, changes, destroys or obliterates remove, alter, change, destroy, or obliterate in any manner or way or who or which causes cause to be removed, defaced, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner or way the name of the maker, model, manufacturer's orshotgun, serialrifle, number,machine orgun gun, or any other firearm shall be guilty of.
A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor.inemisdemeanor. B.
ItB. is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly possess any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm that has a serial number that has been removeA, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner.
AIt violationis ofunlawful thisfor subsectionany isperson, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly possess anyApistol, shotgun, rifle, or any other firearm that has a Classserial 1number misC.that has been willfully removed, changed, desC.
It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly sell, give, or distribute any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm that has a serial numbErnumber that has beenbEen removed,willfully altered,removed, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner.
§ 18.2-308.2:2.sions of this section shall not apply to machine guns or antique firearms as defined in 2.
That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or-308.2:2.or S commitment.
commitment.Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the U correctional facilities;
Pursuanttherefore, toChapter §552 30-19.1:4 of the CodeActs of Virginia,Assembly the estimated amount of the2021, SSpecial necessarySession appropriationI, cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult U requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact ofSessioBof I,S $50,000.
Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessarySnecessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department :T 36 of Juvenile Justice.
35I of/ JuvenileT Justice./ U T E B S 3
T I / T U T E B S 2
View plain text versions (4)
- Substitute Floor substitute printed 22106493D-S3 (DeSteph) Current pdf February 14, 2022
- Committee Substitute Committee substitute printed 22106305D-S2 pdf February 10, 2022
- Committee Substitute Committee substitute printed 22105412D-S1 pdf February 07, 2022
- Presented and ordered printed 22104144D View text pdf January 17, 2022
Action History
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Left in Public Safety
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Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 4-N)
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House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
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Assigned PS sub: Subcommittee #1
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Impact statement from VCSC (SB643S3)
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Referred to Committee on Public Safety
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Read first time
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Placed on Calendar
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Impact statement from DPB (SB643S3)
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Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)
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Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
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Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB643S2
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Title replaced 22106305D-S2
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Committee substitute agreed to (22-Y 18-N)
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Reading of substitute waived
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Committee substitute rejected 22105412D-S1
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Read second time
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Passed by for the day
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Impact statement from DPB (SB643S2)
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Floor substitute printed 22106493D-S3 (DeSteph)
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Impact statement from VCSC (SB643S2)
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Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
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Committee substitute printed 22106305D-S2
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Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (13-Y 3-N)
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Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
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Senate subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
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Impact statement from DPB (SB643S1)
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Impact statement from VCSC (SB643S1)
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Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
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Committee substitute printed 22105412D-S1
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Reported from Judiciary with substitute (10-Y 5-N)
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Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
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Impact statement from DPB (SB643)
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Assigned Judiciary sub: Criminal Law
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Impact statement from VCSC (SB643)
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Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
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Presented and ordered printed 22104144D
Sponsors
- Jennifer L. McClellan · Cosponsor
- Adam P. Ebbin · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 23 voted No
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (1)
- Jennifer L. McClellan
Not signed on (146)
146 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 146 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 55% | 36% | 0% | 9% |
How each member voted (11)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| March, Marie E. | — | Yea |
| Angelia Williams Graves | — | Nay |
| Bill Wiley | — | Yea |
| Campbell, Ronnie R. | — | Yea |
| Cordoza, A.C. | — | Yea |
| Fariss, C. Matthew | — | Yea |
| Freitas, Nicholas J. | — | Yea |
| Jenkins, Clinton L. | — | Nay |
| Kory, Kaye | — | Nay |
| Nadarius E. Clark | — | Nay |
| Tony O. Wilt | — | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 53% | 48% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 22 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 55% | 45% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 81% | 19% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (16)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Barker, George L. | — | Yea |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ebbin, Adam P. | — | Yea |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Howell, Janet D. | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Newman, Stephen D. | — | Nay |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Ruff, Frank M., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Vogel, Jill Holtzman | — | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 67% | 33% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (15)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Morrissey, Joseph D. | — | Yea |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Nay |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Nay |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Nay |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Nay |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
| William M. Stanley, Jr. | — | Nay |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 643 do?
- Removing, altering, etc., serial number on firearm; selling, giving, etc., or possessing firearm with removed, altered, etc., serial number; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly possess any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm, except for an antique firearm, that has a serial number that has been removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner. The bill also makes it a Class 6 felony for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly sell, give, or distribute any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or other firearm, except for an antique firearm, that has a serial number that has been removed, defaced, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner.
- Who sponsors SB 643?
- SB 643 is sponsored by Jennifer L. McClellan and Adam P. Ebbin.
- What is the current status of SB 643?
- This bill died with 2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 643?
- Track SB 643 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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