Family Abuse Permanent Protective Order

On July 1, 2016, a new provision of the law prohibits a person who is subject to a family abuse permanent protective order (“respondent”) from possessing a firearm. The law provides that after being served with a permanent protective order, the respondent has a 24-hour period to lawfully possess the firearm solely for purpose of transferring or selling the firearm to another person who is legally allowed to possess it. A violation of this law is a Class 6 Felony, punishable up to five years in prison, as well as the loss of certain civil rights, including the right to possess a firearm.

The law only applies to subjects of family abuse permanent protective orders issued pursuant to Virginia Code Section 16.1-279.1 and does not apply to individuals subject to an emergency, temporary or other protective order.

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