Va. Code » Title 18.2. Crimes and Offenses Generally » Chapter 7. Crimes Involving Health and Safety » Article 7. Other Illegal Weapons
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-311.1 (2026)

Removing, altering, etc., serial number or other identification on firearm; selling, giving, etc., or possessing firearm without serial number; penalties

✓ current as of May 2026
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A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to intentionally remove, alter, change, destroy, or obliterate in any manner or way or cause to be removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner or way the name of the maker, model, manufacturer's or serial number, or any other identification required by federal law on any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly possess any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm that has a serial number that has been removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

C. It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly sell, give, or distribute any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm that has a serial number that has been removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner. A violation of this subsection is a Class 6 felony.

D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to antique firearms as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2.

1975, c. 590; 2024, c. 786.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 2004–2018 · leading case: Larwan Badru Bonner v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 745 S.E.2d 162 (Va. Ct. App. 2013).
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Larwan Badru Bonner v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 745 S.E.2d 162 (Va. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 5× “shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. By the plain language of the statute, it is clear that this offense constitutes a discrete act.”
Grace Nadine McGuire v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 813 S.E.2d 552 (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “2d at 165 (addressing the offense of intentionally removing or altering the serial number of a firearm set forth in Code § 18.2-311.1). In Bonner, this Court concluded venue was improper in a particular jurisdiction under the general venue statute because none of the elements of…”
Fox v. Commonwealth, 598 S.E.2d 770 (Va. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “She observed that the serial number on the handgun had been obliterated in violation of Code § 18.2-311.1, also a Class 1 misdemeanor.”
Bonner v. Commonwealth, 734 S.E.2d 692 (Va. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 27× “Larwan Badru Bonner (“Bonner”) was convicted in the Circuit Court of Brunswick County (“trial court”) for altering the serial number of a firearm in violation of Code § 18.2-311.1, using threatening language over the phone in violation of Code § 18.”
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