Virginia 2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 18 — Firearms; criminal history record information checks, age requirement, penalty.

Last action — Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (12-Y 0-N)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Firearms; criminal history record information checks; agerequirement; penalty. Provides that a person must be at least 21 years old,or must be at least 18 years old by the effective date of the bill, to purchasea firearm. The bill requires a background check for any firearm transfer andrequires the Department of State Police to establish a process for transferorsof firearms to obtain such a check from licensed firearms dealers. A transferorwho fails to obtain a required background check and transfers the firearm toanother person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts certaintransfers from the required background check. The bill removes the provision thatmakes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearmsshows voluntary. The bill also provides that any person who recklessly leaves aloaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb ofany person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 6 felony and that it is aClass 1 misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age18 to use a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of anadult. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded,unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any childunder the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and it is a Class 1misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age 12 touse a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of an adult. Thebill also raises the age from 18 to 21 for any person to knowingly andintentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in theCommonwealth.

Bill Text

  • Impact statement from VCSC (SB18) View text Current html November 18, 2019

Action History

  1. Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (12-Y 0-N)

  2. Moved from Courts of Justice to Judiciary due to a change of the committee name

  3. Impact statement from VCSC (SB18)

  4. Referred to Committee on the Judiciary

  5. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20100508D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (12-Y 0-N)

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12000
Total 12000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (12)
Member Party Vote
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 18 do?
Firearms; criminal history record information checks; agerequirement; penalty. Provides that a person must be at least 21 years old,or must be at least 18 years old by the effective date of the bill, to purchasea firearm. The bill requires a background check for any firearm transfer andrequires the Department of State Police to establish a process for transferorsof firearms to obtain such a check from licensed firearms dealers. A transferorwho fails to obtain a required background check and transfers the firearm toanother person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts certaintransfers from the required background check. The bill removes the provision thatmakes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearmsshows voluntary. The bill also provides that any person who recklessly leaves aloaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb ofany person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 6 felony and that it is aClass 1 misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age18 to use a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of anadult. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded,unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any childunder the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and it is a Class 1misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age 12 touse a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of an adult. Thebill also raises the age from 18 to 21 for any person to knowingly andintentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in theCommonwealth.
Who sponsors SB 18?
SB 18 is sponsored by Saslaw, Richard L..
What is the current status of SB 18?
This bill died with 2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” 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 18?
Track SB 18 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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