RICHMOND
Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37) of Fairfax County last week withdrew Senate Bill No. 694, which would have made shooting or possessing a firearm for the purpose of hunting in, across or within 50 feet from the center line of a state roadway a Class 4 misdemeanor. Marsden requested that bill be stricken in the Senate Courts of Justice.

Section 18.2-286 of the Code of Virginia already states that if any person discharges a firearm, crossbow or bow and arrow in or across any road, or within the right-of-way or in a street of any city or tow, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

Sen. Marsden was unavailable for comment on Tuesday, but his legislative assistant Brent McKenzie said the bill was, “put together minutes before the deadline,” and that the “language was messy.”

McKenzie added that Marsden will reintroduce the bill next year with better language.