: Background checks were only required for sales through licensed dealers. Private sales between individuals did not require a background check or registration.
: Law-abiding citizens could legally carry a firearm openly without a permit. virginia gun laws 2019
: Virginia was a "shall-issue" state, meaning authorities had to issue a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) to any applicant who met the legal criteria. : Background checks were only required for sales
: There were no state-level limits on the number of handguns an individual could purchase in a month (the previous one-per-month law had been repealed in 2012). : Virginia was a "shall-issue" state, meaning authorities
Following the Virginia Beach shooting, Governor Ralph Northam called for a special session to address gun violence. Although 2019 saw intense debate, the majority of proposed reforms were delayed until the 2020 legislative session, where the following measures were eventually signed into law:
Before the 2020 reforms took place, Virginia was characterized by the following regulations: