Can s/he own a gun?
According to Virginia state law, it is illegal for someone to possess or buy a gun if s/he: • was acquitted of a crime by reason of insanity and and committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; • was declared legally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a court; • was committed to a mental institution against his or her will; • was convicted of two misdemeanor drug offenses within a 3-year period (but s/he can own a gun after 5 years from the second conviciton if s/he has a clean record); or • is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States* If the abuser falls into any of these categories, it may be illegal for him/her to have a gun. If this is your situation, please talk to someone in your area about how these laws are being enforced. If none of these situations apply, you can still make a plan for your safety. See our Staying Safe page for more information. You can also contact your local domestic violence
