{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-433.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-433.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-433.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-433.3.html"}],"law_id":350956,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350956,"structure_id":50196,"section_number":"18.2-433.3","catch_line":"Exceptions","history":"1987, c. 720.","full_text":"Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to apply to:\n\n1\n\nAny act of a law-enforcement officer performed in the otherwise lawful performance of the officer’s official duties;\n\n2\n\nAny activity, undertaken without knowledge of or intent to cause or further a civil disorder, which is intended to teach or practice self-defense or self-defense techniques such as karate clubs or self-defense clinics, and similar lawful activity;\n\n3\n\nAny facility, program or lawful activity related to firearms instruction and training intended to teach the safe handling and use of firearms; or\n\n4\n\nAny other lawful sports or activities related to the individual recreational use or possession of firearms, including but not limited to hunting activities, target shooting, self-defense and firearms collection.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any language contained herein, no activity of any individual, group, organization or other entity engaged in the lawful display or use of firearms or other weapons or facsimiles thereof shall be deemed to be in violation of this statute.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1307301,"text":"Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to apply to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1307302,"text":"Any act of a law-enforcement officer performed in the otherwise lawful performance of the officer’s official duties;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":1307303,"text":"Any activity, undertaken without knowledge of or intent to cause or further a civil disorder, which is intended to teach or practice self-defense or self-defense techniques such as karate clubs or self-defense clinics, and similar lawful activity;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":1307304,"text":"Any facility, program or lawful activity related to firearms instruction and training intended to teach the safe handling and use of firearms; or","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":1307305,"text":"Any other lawful sports or activities related to the individual recreational use or possession of firearms, including but not limited to hunting activities, target shooting, self-defense and firearms collection.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any language contained herein, no activity of any individual, group, organization or other entity engaged in the lawful display or use of firearms or other weapons or facsimiles thereof shall be deemed to be in violation of this statute.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50196,"edition_id":2,"name":"Unlawful Paramilitary Activity","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":7,"parent_id":50188,"metadata":{"child_laws":3,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:28","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:26","permalink":{"id":1395157,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50196,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/9\/8","url":"\/18.2\/9\/8\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50188,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Against Peace and Order","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":9,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":39,"child_structures":8},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:22","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:25","permalink":{"id":1394997,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50188,"identifier":"9","token":"18.2\/9","url":"\/18.2\/9\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350954,"structure_id":50196,"section_number":"18.2-433.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-433.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/8\/18.2-433.1","metadata":false},{"id":350955,"structure_id":50196,"section_number":"18.2-433.2","catch_line":"Paramilitary activity prohibited; penalty","url":"\/18.2-433.2\/","token":"18.2\/9\/8\/18.2-433.2","metadata":false},{"id":350956,"structure_id":50196,"section_number":"18.2-433.3","catch_line":"Exceptions","url":"\/18.2-433.3\/","token":"18.2\/9\/8\/18.2-433.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350955,"structure_id":50196,"section_number":"18.2-433.2","catch_line":"Paramilitary activity prohibited; penalty","url":"\/18.2-433.2\/","token":"18.2\/9\/8\/18.2-433.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-433.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 720 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1395167,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350956,"identifier":"18.2-433.3","token":"18.2\/9\/8\/18.2-433.3","url":"\/18.2-433.3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-433.3\/","token":"18.2\/9\/8\/18.2-433.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Exceptions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-433.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to apply to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Any act of a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> performed in the otherwise lawful performance of the officer’s official duties; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Any activity, undertaken without knowledge of or intent<\/span> to cause or further a civil disorder<\/span>, which is intended to teach or practice self-defense or self-defense techniques such as karate clubs or self-defense clinics, and similar lawful activity; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Any facility, program or lawful activity related to firearms<\/span> instruction and training intended to teach the safe handling and use of firearms<\/span>; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Any other lawful sports or activities related to the individual recreational use or possession<\/span> of firearms<\/span>, including but not limited to hunting activities, target shooting, self-defense and firearms<\/span> collection.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any language contained herein, no activity of any individual, group, organization or other entity engaged in the lawful display or use of firearms<\/span> or other weapons or facsimiles thereof shall be deemed to be in violation of this statute<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEXCEPTIONS (\u00a7 18.2-433.3)\n\nNothing contained in this article shall be construed to apply to:\n\n1. Any act of a law-enforcement officer performed in the otherwise lawful\nperformance of the officer’s official duties;\n\n2. Any activity, undertaken without knowledge of or intent to cause or further a\ncivil disorder, which is intended to teach or practice self-defense or\nself-defense techniques such as karate clubs or self-defense clinics, and\nsimilar lawful activity;\n\n3. Any facility, program or lawful activity related to firearms instruction and\ntraining intended to teach the safe handling and use of firearms; or\n\n4. Any other lawful sports or activities related to the individual recreational\nuse or possession of firearms, including but not limited to hunting activities,\ntarget shooting, self-defense and firearms collection.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any language contained herein, no activity of any individual,\ngroup, organization or other entity engaged in the lawful display or use of\nfirearms or other weapons or facsimiles thereof shall be deemed to be in\nviolation of this statute.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 720.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}