What is the statutory penalty for Reckless handling of a firearm?

• A. Class 6 felony
• B. Class 1 misdemeanor
• C. Class 3 misdemeanor
• D. No penalty

Answer: (B)

Reckless handling of a firearm is punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor. In Virginia, offenses are categorized by severity, and this particular behavior is defined as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, reflecting that it poses a real risk but doesn’t reach felony level. The statute sets the penalty at up to 12 months in jail and a fine not to exceed $2,500. That’s why this option is the best fit: it carries a concrete penalty and matches the level of severity defined for this reckless conduct with a firearm. It isn’t no penalty, nor is it a felony or a lesser misdemeanor—those would describe different offenses with different penalties (Class 3 misdemeanor, for example, maxes out at a much smaller penalty).