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The Virginia Senate passed legislation that would make it illegal to “sell, purchase, import, manufacture or transfer assault weapons in Virginia starting on July 1, 2026, with some exceptions,” WRIC reports.
“The overall goal of this bill is to ensure that we have less weapons of war on the streets,” said Democratic Senator Saddam Salim (D-Fairfax), according to the outlet.
“Notably, the bill doesn’t make it illegal to possess an assault weapon or high-capacity magazine if you already have one,” reporter Tyler Englander commented.
Breaking: A bill to make it illegal for anyone to import, sell, manufacture, purchase, or transfer an assault firearm or high-capacity magazine (more than 15 rounds) in Virginia is on its way to @GovernorVA.
Notably, the bill doesn’t make it illegal to possess an assault weapon…
— Tyler Englander (@TylerEnglander) March 9, 2026
WRIC explained further:
The bill would also make it illegal to sell, transfer or purchase a high-capacity magazine capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition, with some exceptions starting on July 1.
“How do we ensure that my kids and your kids, and whoever kids come after this, that they have a safe place when they go to school, not necessarily a place where they have to do active shooter drills and think about whether it’s real or if it’s not,” Salim said.
Salim added that the measure is about tackling gun violence, but it doesn’t make it a crime to possess an assault weapon or high-capacity magazine that anyone already owns.
However, Obenshain said the bill won’t do anything to deter criminals.
“The people who are gonna obey this law, they’re gonna be the law-abiders, they’re not gonna be the people who engage in the mass shootings or other criminal conduct,” said Obenshain.
Obenshain added that the bill will prevent Virginians from buying various types of guns that are used for hunting and other reasons.
“The Senate has agreed to the House Substitute for SB749, the so-called ‘assault weapons’ and magazine ban, and the bill is heading to Gov. Spanberger’s desk,” the National Association for Gun Rights warned.
🚨 Virginia Gun Rights alert:
The Senate has agreed to the House Substitute for SB749, the so-called “assault weapons” and magazine ban, and the bill is heading to Gov. Spanberger’s desk. pic.twitter.com/SqWSbnergo
— National Association for Gun Rights (@gunrights) March 9, 2026
WTOP has more:
The bill passed through the House along party lines, though many Republicans said recent Supreme Court decisions would make the law vulnerable to litigation.
Stone echoed that sentiment, saying: ”I know our organization, our legal foundation, Gun Owners Foundation, is already preparing to sue the state, along with our friends at Virginia Citizens Defense League. We believe that we can have success defending gun owners and saying these laws are unconstitutional.”
Still, many political activists and religious groups voiced their support for the bill throughout committee hearings.
“We view this as a lifesaving measure, and we hope you will view it in that light as well,” Jeff Caruso with the Virginia Catholic Conference told the House Firearms Subcommittee in January.
Another proposed law would create a civil penalty of up to $500 for anyone who leaves a weapon not locked away in their vehicle. That vehicle could also be towed.
Del. Amy Laufer sponsored the bill, which has passed the House and is now up for debate in the Senate.
“Two years ago, a 16-year-old from Harrisonburg stole a gun from a car and ended up killing a man. Our police departments are struggling to send the message to the public, ‘Don’t leave weapons unattended in your car’,” Laufer said.
However, Stone said other laws on the books drive gun owners to storing weapons in their car.