On Thursday, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) achieved a significant win for the state Democratic Party in the ongoing debate over the Second Amendment. This came despite earlier polls indicating that a large majority of Virginians were against the ban on so-called “assault rifles.” Starting July 1, new laws will prohibit certain firearms, restricting the import, purchase, sale, transfer, or manufacture of:
- A semi-automatic rifle or pistol capable of holding more than 15 rounds in a fixed magazine.
- A semi-automatic centerfire rifle chambered for more than a .22 caliber with specific stock features or a grenade launcher.
- A semi-automatic shotgun with a removable magazine and a fixed magazine capacity exceeding 15 rounds.
- A shotgun featuring a rotating cylinder.
- A firearm designed to utilize a belt ammunition feeding device.
If someone is found violating this law, it can be classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor—this is the most severe misdemeanor classification. A person convicted could face up to a year in prison, along with a $2,500 fine, and will be barred from possessing or transporting such firearms for three years.
Democratic State Senator Saddam Azlan Salim, who supports gun control and moved to the U.S. from Bangladesh in 2000, remarked that Spanberger’s signing of this bill marks a crucial achievement for public safety in Virginia. He emphasized that this legislation would save lives and asserted that progress driven by the people could prevail.
However, the National Rifle Association quickly responded with legal action against Spanberger after the gun ban was ratified.
John Comerford, executive director of the NRA’s Legislative Action Institute, noted that two significant lawsuits had been filed in Virginia. One is in federal court, coupled with the Friends of the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition, while another is in state court alongside the Virginia Shooting Sports Association and Middleton Firearms and Training State Association.
Comerford stated, “The NRA can’t stand by while progressive politicians undermine the rights of law-abiding citizens. Our seasoned legal team is prepared to challenge this unwarranted gun control law.”
Adam Kraut, Executive Director of the Second Amendment Foundation, criticized Congress members for advancing a bill that, he believes, undermines the Constitution. He pointed out that the firearms and magazines banned by this new law represent some of the most widely owned guns in the country, utilized legally by millions of Americans.
A federal complaint has also been submitted, with the SAF, FPC, and NRA arguing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia that the ban infringes upon the Second and Fourteenth Amendment rights of their members. They are seeking a ruling that declares both the ban and associated laws unconstitutional.
Additionally, the Department of Justice has signaled its intent to contest the gun ban in court.
