Virginia Assault Weapons Ban Hit with Second Injunction: What It Means

A second court injunction has blocked Virginia State Police and multiple localities from enforcing the controversial assault weapons ban and magazine restrictions — but it’s far from a clean victory. In this breaking analysis, we break down today’s ruling from Washington County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell and what the developing patchwork of enforcement means for Virginia gun owners.

The NRA-backed lawsuit secured a preliminary injunction against Virginia State Police Superintendent Jeffrey Katz and Commonwealth’s Attorneys in Washington County, Chesterfield County, Frederick County, York County, Giles County, and the City of Chesapeake.

The order, which runs through July 1, 2027, cites Article I, Section 13 of the Virginia Constitution — affirming the right of the people (the militia) to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

This follows a similar injunction out of Lancaster County last week. While these are significant wins for 2A supporters, the ruling creates confusion: enforcement now varies by jurisdiction, with many areas (including populous Northern Virginia localities) still able to pursue charges. The underlying law — Senate Bill 749 (assault firearms ban) and House Bill 217 (magazine capacity limits) — remains on the books and takes effect July 1, creating sales, transfer, and compliance headaches for dealers and owners alike.

Attorney Tim Anderson and the VCDL highlighted the strong constitutional language in the opinion while warning of the messy real-world impact. The Commonwealth has already signaled it will appeal.

This is exactly why we track these stories at Virginia Insider — providing the context Virginia voters and gun owners need. Like, comment with your thoughts on this patchwork enforcement, and subscribe for more unfiltered statewide coverage.

Sources:

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