
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 7, 1992                   TAG: 9203070295
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

BILL TOUGHENS GUN PENALTIES IN SCHOOL USE

House and Senate lawmakers adopted suggestions from a conference committee Friday and voted to make it a felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine, to willfully fire a weapon on school grounds or on public property within 1,000 feet of a school.

The measure also would make it a felony to point, hold or brandish a firearm on or near school grounds. Violators may be imprisoned one to five years, or fined up to $2,500 and/or jailed for 12 months.

The bill establishes the same penalties for anyone who possesses a firearm on school property or at any public place during a school function. The bill would not apply to an unloaded gun in a closed container or to an unloaded shotgun or rifle on a vehicle's gun rack.

The bill, sponsored by Del. William Moore, D-Portsmouth, became something of a cause in the legislature after shootings outside of schools in Hampton Roads. The bill, which will apply statewide, will take effect as soon as it receives the governor's signature.

by CNB