Who Cannot Carry
Va. Code 18.2-308.2 — after a felony, no firearm or ammunition, a Class 6 felony with mandatory minimums
Who. It is unlawful for a person convicted of a felony, in Virginia or elsewhere, to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport any firearm or ammunition for a firearm, any stun weapon, or any explosive material, or to carry a concealed weapon about the person.
A juvenile record. The same applies to a person adjudicated delinquent, at 14 years of age or older, of murder, kidnapping, robbery by the threat or presentation of firearms, or rape, and to a person under the age of 29 adjudicated delinquent at 14 or older of another act that would be a felony if committed by an adult.
At home. Such a person may possess a stun weapon in their residence or its curtilage.
The minimums. A violation is a Class 6 felony. Possessing or transporting a firearm after a violent felony carries a mandatory minimum term of five years, and after any other felony within the prior 10 years a mandatory minimum of two years, served consecutively with any other sentence.
A newer misdemeanor rule. A person convicted of an offense the section names, committed on or after July 1, 2026, may not purchase, possess or transport a firearm for three years following the conviction. A violation of that rule is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Who is excepted. The prohibitions do not apply to members of the Armed Forces or National Guard carrying out their duties, law enforcement officers performing theirs, or a person who has been pardoned or had political disabilities removed, as the section provides.
Federal law keeps its own list of prohibited persons, which applies alongside the state's and is not on this page. Whether a particular conviction, order or commitment brings a person within the section, and whether rights can be restored, are questions for a licensed Virginia attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Va. Code 18.2-308.2 — Possession or transportation of firearms by convicted felons
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.