VA · jury_instructions
Va. Model Jury Instr. Crim. No. 18.930
Reckless Handling of a Firearm—Felony
The Defendant is charged with the crime of reckless handling of a firearm in a manner so gross,
wanton and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life and causing serious bodily
injury of another person resulting in permanent and significant impairment. The Commonwealth
must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each of the following elements of that crime:
(1) The defendant handled a firearm in a manner so gross, wanton and culpable as to show a
reckless disregard for human life; and
(2) The defendant caused serious bodily injury of another person resulting in permanent and
significant physical impairment.
If you find from the evidence that the Commonwealth has proved beyond a reasonable doubt
each of the above elements of the crime as charged, then you shall find the defendant guilty of
felonious reckless handling of a firearm [but you shall not fix the punishment until your verdict has
been returned and further evidence has been heard by you].
If you find from the evidence that the Commonwealth has not proved either element above, but
you find that the Commonwealth has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that
(1) The defendant recklessly handled a firearm; and
(2) The life, limb, or property of a person was endangered,
then you shall find the defendant guilty of reckless handling of a firearm [but you shall not fix the
punishment until your verdict has been returned and further evidence has been heard by you].
If you find that the Commonwealth has failed to prove either or both of the elements of the
crime, then you shall find the defendant not guilty.
History
Virginia Model Jury Instructions – Criminal, Release 26, October 2025. The unannotated set, posted by the Supreme Court of Virginia at vacourts.gov; the book states that it is made available with the permission of the publisher, Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
Provenance
- Source
- vacourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-11
- Edition
- crim-2025-10-01
- Content hash
ef6ed21c9afefc35fcfc536e67bb8149d1931ff8e2c313a7ea03fdfe39a60513
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