Bill > SB1027

This bill amends Virginia Code § 18.2-53.1 to increase the mandatory minimum prison sentence for using or displaying a firearm while committing certain serious felonies. Currently, a first-time offender receives a mandatory minimum of three years in prison, and a second or subsequent offense carries a five-year mandatory minimum. The bill increases the mandatory minimum sentence for repeat offenders from five to 10 years. The law applies to felonies such as murder, rape, robbery, carjacking, burglary, and other serious violent crimes where a firearm is used or displayed threateningly. The bill makes a few minor linguistic changes, such as replacing "shall be" with "is" and "shall constitute" with "constitutes". The fiscal note indicates that this change could result in additional imprisonment costs of approximately $24,997 for state correctional facilities. The mandatory minimum sentences would be served consecutively with the sentence for the underlying felony, meaning the firearm-related offense punishment is added on top of the punishment for the primary crime.

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https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1027