Virginia
Gun owners in Virginia must store guns securely to prevent unauthorized access by children.
Gun owners in Virginia may be subject to criminal penalties if they recklessly leave a loaded and unsecured firearm in a manner that endangers the safety of a child under age 14.*
To comply with state law and avoid potential criminal liability, gun owners should store firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition to prevent children under 14 from gaining unauthorized access to them.
Virginia provides a tax credit for the purchase of firearm safety devices, such as gun safes, lock boxes, and trigger locks. Individuals can seek an income tax credit equal to the cost of the device up to $300 ($600 for married couples filing jointly).
* Parents or guardians in Virginia have an additional obligation to take steps to prevent a child under 18 from possessing a firearm when: (1) they have received notice of a preliminary determination by a school threat assessment team that the child poses a threat of violence or physical harm, or (2) when the child has charges pending or has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of a violent juvenile felony. Failure to prevent firearm access by the child in these circumstances may result in more serious criminal charges.
Keeping Your Homes and Vehicles Safe with Secure Storage
If you’ve made the decision to bring a gun into your home, it’s important to know how responsible gun owners work to keep their families safe by mitigating the inherent risks associated with firearm ownership. Every responsible gun owner securely stores their guns so that they are inaccessible to children and other people who are at risk of harming themselves or others. Here’s why:
- More than 700 children die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member.
- Nearly 360 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else each year.
- At least one-third of youth gun suicides and unintentional deaths could be prevented with increased secure storage.
- More than 200,000 guns are stolen from individuals every year—a significant portion of those are stolen from cars.
Safety is always an adult responsibility. Kids will be kids, so it’s always an adult’s responsibility to keep children safe. Always assume that curious or impulsive kids may find and touch an unsecured gun, even if they’ve been told not to. If a child handles a gun, a bad decision can quickly become a fatal one. Be SMART adults protect kids by making sure all guns are stored securely, which means they are inaccessible to kids, and by making sure children are never in the presence of unsecured guns.
The information provided here is not legal advice and should not be understood as such. Consult with an attorney if you have questions about how this law applies to your specific circumstances.