Spanberger Signs AR-15 Ban, Then Immediately Says the Quiet Part Out Loud

On Thursday, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed into law a ban on so-called "assault weapons," and beginning July 1, 2026, this new law will ban the purchase, sale, and transfer of certain firearms, including AR-15s. Anyone caught engaging in such activity will face a Class 1 misdemeanor charge.

This particular piece of legislation, SB749, was written by Democrat State. Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, a Muslim immigrant from Bangladesh 

 

who represents parts of uber-lefty Fairfax County. After the bill was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly, it first went to Spanberger back in March, and she eventually returned it to them with suggested amendments that were even more restrictive than what Salim had proposed. 

The General Assembly ultimately rejected her amendments, and returned the bill for her signature. 

Here's the verbiage of the new law:

Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm, as that term is defined in the bill with some exceptions, and prohibits a person who has been convicted of such violation from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm for a period of three years from the date of conviction. The bill provides that an assault firearm does not include any firearm that is an antique firearm, has been rendered permanently inoperable, or is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action. The bill also prohibits the sale of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill provides that any person who willfully and intentionally (i) sells an assault firearm to another person or (ii) purchases an assault firearm from another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and that any person who imports, sells, barters, transfers, or purchases a large capacity ammunition feeding device is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

 

The lawsuits began flying before the ink was dry. The National Rifle Association (NRA) filed lawsuits in both federal and state court; the Second Amendment Foundation joined the NRA in filing a state complaint; and, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon retweeted a copy of the legislation, adding "See you in court!"

---

SEE ALSO: After the Vote, a Judge Just Upended Virginia’s Redistricting Plan

Hot Takes: VA AG Jay Jones Redefines Incompetence - and Reveals How Dems Have Lost the Plot

---

Professor Jonathan Turley wrote that Spanberger likely just created a heap of legal and political trouble for herself based on problematic comments she made after signing the bill. 

Spanberger released a statement that:

“I am signing this bill into law because firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets. We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe. While the General Assembly chose not to adopt my amendment that specifically carves out certain firearms frequently used for hunting, I will work with the patrons to clarify this language.” (emphasis added)

The governor’s acknowledgment that the law covers common hunting models will likely be cited in Second Amendment challenges. If the law is not amended, she could prove the main witness against her own signed legislation.

Experts like Turley expect the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to strike down this law citing its "landmark" ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized the Second Amendment "as encompassing an individual right to bear arms." Turley added that the Court "further strengthened the right in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen."

At least two commonwealth's attorneys in Virginia, Philip Blevins in Smyth County and Ryan Mehaffey in Spotsylvania County, have notified the public that they have no intention of enforcing Spanberger's law, which Blevins called both "unconstitutional" and "unenforceable."

The bill's sponsor, meanwhile, is taking a victory lap on social media, saying the new law "marks a monumental victory for public safety."

I did a breakdown on the lawsuits in this video, and make the argument that two SCOTUS rulings against her will kill Spanberger's presidential aspirations.