Chap. 297.—An ACT to provide that in counties having a certain density of popu-
lation, persons engaged in the business of selling pistols or revolvers at retail
shall register with and obtain certain permits from the chief of police; to re-
quire any person desiring to purchase any such weapon to obtain a permit so to
do; and to provide that no person obtaining a permit to sell shall sell, give
or furnish any such weapon to any person unless he delivers to the dealer a
permit. obtained under the provisions of this act; and to prescribe penalties
for violations. [H 366]

Approved March 29, 1944

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. In any county having a density of population of more than one
thousand a square mile, as shown by the last preceding United States
census, any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of sell-
ing pistols or revolvers at retail shall, before making any such sale, regis-
ter as such a dealer with the chief of police of the county and obtain
from him a permit to sell such weapons to persons entitled to buy them.
which permit he shall issue upon his being satisfied with the fitness of the
dealer to engage in such business. Such permits shall be issued for a
period of one year.

Any person desiring to buy at retail or otherwise acquire a pistol or
revolver shall first apply to the chief of police, hereinafter called the
Chief, for a permit so to do, and shall at the same time give to the Chief
such information as he requires concerning his fitness to own and possess
such weapon. The Chief may grant such permit, or refuse same or defer
the application until he has made an independent investigation of the ap-
plicant ; provided no permit shall be granted to any person under the age
of eighteen years, nor until the Chief is satished that the applicant is a
proper person to own and have the weapon in his possession.

No dealer holding a permit issued hereunder shall sell, give, barter,
exchange or furnish a pistol or revolver to any person unless he de-
livers to the dealer che permit of the Chief as required in this act. Upon
the delivery of any such weapon to any person by the dealer, he shall
endorse on the permit the date of delivery, the name and address of the
person to whom delivered, the number, and the make and calibre of the
pistol or revolver, and shall return the permit to the Chief not later than
the day following that on which the weapon was sold or furnished.

The Chief shall inake and preserve in his office a record of all per-
mits issued by him hereunder, showing thereon the dates when and the
persons to whom issued.

Any person violating any provision of this act shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor.

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