Bill Text: VA HB427 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of undetectable firearms; penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-11 - Left in Public Safety [HB427 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB427-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-308.5 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-308.5. Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of undetectable firearm prohibited; penalty.
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, import, sell, transfer, or possess (i) any plastic firearm or (ii) any firearm that, after removal of all parts other than a major component, is not detectable as a firearm by the types of detection devices, including X-ray machines, commonly used at airports for security screening.
As used in this section, "plastic:
"Major component" means (i) the slide or cylinder, or the frame or receiver, of the firearm and (ii) in the case of a rifle or shotgun, the barrel of the firearm.
"Plastic
firearm" means any firearm, including machine guns and sawed-off shotguns
as defined in this chapter, containing less than 3.7 ounces of
electromagnetically detectable metal in the barrel, slide, cylinder, frame, or receiver of which, when subjected to
inspection by the types of detection
devices, including X-ray machines,
commonly used at airports for security screening,
does not generate an image that accurately depicts its shape.
A violation of this section shall be punishable as a Class 5 felony.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 854 of the Acts of Assembly of 2019 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
