Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-56.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.
A. It shall be is unlawful for any person to
recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger
the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen 14. Any person violating the
provisions of this subsection shall be is guilty of a Class 3
misdemeanor.
B. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly authorize a child four years of age or younger to use a firearm or a pneumatic gun under any circumstances. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. It shall be is
unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child five years
of age or older but under the age of twelve 12 to use a firearm except
when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this
subsection shall be is
guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
D. For
purposes of this subsection section, "adult" shall mean means
a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child, or a
person twenty-one 21
years of age or over older who has the permission
of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the
child in the use of a firearm.