Prohibición de posesión de armas para menores de 18 años en Virginia

Explicación Simple

En Virginia, los menores de 18 años no pueden tener o transportar pistolas o rifles de asalto. Si lo hacen, pueden meterse en problemas con la ley y recibir una multa o un castigo.

Es como si en una familia se estableciera que los niños no pueden manejar el coche. Aunque ellos quieran conducir, no tienen la edad ni la experiencia para hacerlo de manera segura.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, de 16 años, decide llevar la pistola de su padre al parque para mostrarla a sus amigos. Aunque su intención no es hacer nada malo, esto es ilegal y podría enfrentar cargos si lo descubren.

Penalidades

Una violación de esta ley puede resultar en un delito menor de Clase 1.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 18.2-308.7 - Possession or transportation of certain firearms by persons under the age of 18; penalty. It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth. For the purposes of this section, "handgun" means any pistol or revolver or other firearm originally designed, made and intended to fire single or multiple projectiles by means of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand and "assault firearm" means any (i) semi-automatic centerfire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (ii) shotgun with a magazine which will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered. A violation of this section shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor. This section shall not apply to: 1. Any person (i) while in his home or on his property; (ii) while in the home or on the property of his parent, grandparent, or legal guardian; or (iii) while on the property of another who has provided prior permission, and with the prior permission of his parent or legal guardian if the person has the landowner's written permission on his person while on such property; 2. Any person who, while accompanied by an adult, is at, or going to and from, a lawful shooting range or firearms educational class, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported; 3. Any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or going to and from a hunting area o