Virginia law prohibits anyone from recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14.¹ It is also unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of 12 to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult.² For purposes of this rule, “adult” means a parent, guardian, or similar person or a person 21 years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or similar person to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.³

In 2026, Virginia enacted a law requiring any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor or person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is present to either (1) store the firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet inaccessible to the minor or prohibited person, or (2) render the firearm incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device.⁴ A firearm may only be stored loaded if in a storage device with a combination lock, coded lock, or biometric lock, with no minor or prohibited person given authorized access.⁵ These storage requirements do not apply while the firearm is carried on the person of someone who is in lawful possession of the firearm.⁶