In a development that came as a surprise to precisely no one with at least a two-digit IQ, “moderate” Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger signed the Old Dominion’s “assault weapons” ban bill into law last night.
Like re-districting, she didn’t campaign on banning guns last year. For some reason. But come on…no one expected her to go against the party and veto either bill if and when it passed.
The law — which also outlaws “high capacity” magazines — goes into effect on July 1, which means that it will be hard to get into a Virginia gun store, let alone buy an AR-15 in the state between now and 7/1.
The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights wasted no time it letting it be known that she’ll be challenging the Virginia gun ban in court. Meanwhile, the Virginia-based National Rifle Association and other plaintiffs have already filed both state and federal lawsuits challenging the new SpanBan.
As the NRA announces . . .
“As promised, we are taking Abigail Spanberger to court,” said John Commerford, NRA-ILA Executive Director. “Throughout the legislative session, the NRA and our members fought Richmond’s radical gun control package tooth and nail. We made it clear that this extreme anti-gun proposal, which bans the new purchase of commonly owned firearms and standard capacity magazines in the Commonwealth, is a blatant violation of Second Amendment rights and an affront to landmark Supreme Court cases. Instead of listening to these factual concerns from their constituents, progressive politicians sided with Michael Bloomberg and his gun-grabbing groups. The NRA will not sit idly by while progressive politicians strip the rights of law-abiding citizens, and our world-class legal team is locked, loaded, and ready to shoot down this outrageous gun-control law.”
The [federal] case, McDonald v. Katz, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The state suit is Santolla v. Katz if you’re keeping score at home. Watch this space.
The Second Amendment Foundation, together with the NRA, Firearms Policy Coalition, and private plaintiffs, has filed McDonald v. Katz challenging Virginia’s newly enacted ban on ‘assault firearms’ and magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds. The law, signed today and… pic.twitter.com/Pisoe1qOmm
— SAF (@2AFDN) May 15, 2026