ETA#3
Both of these bills were amended in conference committee between the house and senate and reported out with substitutes:

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+HB2295H4

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1381S2

They both appear to have identical language and will now go to the full house and senate for final votes. At this point I would say both will likely pass.

These bills will ban carry around Capitol Square and surrounding streets. It also bans carry in any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth (higher Ed and state parks exempted). So this would ban carry inside rest stops. Class 1 misdemeanor for violation and the firearm is subject to forfeiture. The parking lot ban was deleted from these final versions.


ETA#2 Senate requested a conference committee with the house on 2/24 to resolve the differences in HB2295.

The house passed SB1381 on 2/24 (the companion to HB2295) and their version INCLUDES the parking lot ban. I would expect that to go to conference committee as well. Need to keep pressure on both of these bills and maybe get them killed completely in committee of the House and Senate can agree.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+cab+SC10225SB1381+UBSEN



ETA: 2295 passed the Senate with the floor substitute (removing parking lot ban). Still need to contact your rep to make sure it doesn’t get added back in in the conference committee with the house.


Everyone has been focused on 2276 for the 80% ban but HB 2295 is about to sneak through. It goes far beyond just Capital Square which is what everyone is focusing on. The bill includes a ban of firearms at "any building, parking lot, or parking structure owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof."  That means rest stops, parking lots, parking decks, or ANY location owned by the Commonwealth. The prohibition on firearms in parking lots would apply to any traveler stopping at a rest stop as well as any visitor to a state park.

The most overreaching part of this bill is probably out of as much incompetence from the bill’s patron (Levine) in understanding the law as much as malicious intent. Technically this would also make it illegal to hunt with a firearm on state land if you park your vehicle in a parking lot like at a Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This would also seem to apply to parking lots at the public shooting ranges at the state owned WMAs making them essentially illegal to use.

Here's the latest version of the bill: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+HB2295S1

Be sure to contact the following Senators to oppose this bill. It’s coming up for vote in the full Senate this week.

Senator Petersen -https://myvssa.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6a2e5f1c2f9f0bb8850bcdbe2&id=8e193beb8d&e=51d6835cc1

Senator Lewis -https://myvssa.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6a2e5f1c2f9f0bb8850bcdbe2&id=df9788c754&e=51d6835cc1

Senator Edwards -https://myvssa.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6a2e5f1c2f9f0bb8850bcdbe2&id=e51648429c&e=51d6835cc1

Senator Deeds -https://myvssa.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6a2e5f1c2f9f0bb8850bcdbe2&id=eb0757d55a&e=51d6835cc1

Senator Hanger -https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S47

Senator Dunnavant -https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S97

This part is scary as hell for out of state people:  The bill also provides that any firearm carried in violation of these provisions is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeiture to the Commonwealth.

There is no way that this can pass. It will screw over untold amount of Va residents and most likely even more out of state visitors.

They substituted the bill on the floor today to remove the parking lot provision entirely. Still need to reach out and ask the Senators to oppose it.  I would guess it will be up for constitutional reading the next three days.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+HB2295S2

While I don't doubt his ignorance, he makes no effort to learn the current laws. He does this on purpose...year after year after year.

He's been known to propose laws to require things that are required in other laws, or to order agencies to do what they are already doing.  He's nonplussed when called out on it.

2295 just passed the Senate with the floor substitute. Sounds like there are more changes coming in the conference committee with the house.

This is unconstitutional. Can they take away free speech on public land?

OP updated:

The Senate requested a conference committee with the house on 2/24 to resolve the differences in HB2295.

The house passed SB1381 on 2/24 (the companion to HB2295) and their version INCLUDES the parking lot ban. I would expect that to go to conference committee as well. Need to keep pressure on both of these bills and maybe get them killed completely in committee of the House and Senate can agree.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+cab+SC10225SB1381+UBSEN

Both of these bills were amended in conference committee between the house and senate and reported out with substitutes:

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+HB2295H4

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+ful+SB1381S2

They both appear to have identical language and will now go to the full house and senate for final votes. At this point I would say both will likely pass.

These bills will ban carry around Capitol Square and surrounding streets. It also bans carry in any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth (higher Ed and state parks exempted). So this would ban carry inside rest stops. Class 1 misdemeanor for violation and the firearm is subject to forfeiture. The parking lot ban was deleted from these final versions.

Headed to the Governor's desk with some positive changes.

SB1381, Ebbin, and HB2295, Levine, prohibits firearms in Capitol Square and in state government buildings.  The final bills removed tasers from the list of prohibited weapons, leaving only firearms and explosives as being prohibited. The final bills also narrowed the area where carry on the sidewalks surrounding the Capitol isn't allowed.  The prohibited area is on Bank Street where the legislators walk between the Capitol Building and the Pocahontas Building.  Thus, all but a very small area of the sidewalk surrounding the Capitol (100 feet total) are not affected by the ban.  Parking lots on state property were removed as a prohibited area and state parks were specifically exempted from the firearm ban.

Thanks Alexandria