Why It Matters: The sportsmen and women of Virginia are now facing several new gun laws that will impede the ability to purchase, possess, and utilize many popular models of firearms and firearms accessories in the “Old Dominion State”. Gun owners, recreational shooters, and hunters will feel the impacts of this year’s legislative session on July 1, 2026.
Highlights:
- The Virginia Legislature introduced over 30 pieces of legislation that dealt with firearms during this legislative session, with over 10 already enacted into law and several awaiting final action from the Governor before her deadline (May 22, 2026). If the Governor does not take action, the bills automatically become law.
- Many pieces of legislation addressed what is defined as an “assault firearm”, who can purchase and possess such firearms, sin taxes, and much more.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) engaged on several pieces of firearm legislation; however, despite CSF’s efforts and those of our in-state and national partners, many of these egregious bills were enacted.
The “Old Dominion State” saw a plethora of anti-gun/anti-sportsmen and women legislation this past legislative session. Unfortunately, a large majority of these bills were passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Abigail Spanberger. Several of these bills, such as House Bill 1525, increase the minimum age of purchase and possession of certain firearms from 18 years old to 21 years old. Additionally, there were a few bills (House Bill 919, House Bill 1094, and Senate Bill 763) that attempted to implement a “sin tax” on firearms and ammunition purchases, but those have been “continued until 2027”. This means they “failed” for this year but will be re-addressed during the 2027 legislative session.
One of the most egregious pieces of legislation is House Bill 217, or better known as the “assault weapons ban”. This legislation is awaiting action by Governor Spanberger, but would ultimately ban certain semi-automatic firearms, including many semi-automatic rifles and pistols, and certain shotguns that may have folding, telescoping, or collapsible stocks. Additionally, this legislation would ban the sale of magazines that have a capacity over 15 rounds and prohibits the possession of these firearms by anyone under the age of 21 unless you are on your own property, or have permission from a property owner, you are accompanied by an adult while going to and from a lawful shooting range or firearms educational class, engaged in lawful hunting or going to and from a hunting area, or a person carrying out their military duties.
There is no question: the Virginia legislature and the newly elected Governor took their punches at the sportsmen and women of the Commonwealth. Where does this leave us? You can expect to see several groups suing the State of Virginia over several of these newly enacted bills.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is disappointed in the outcome of this year’s legislative session with such egregious and detrimental pieces of legislation being enacted. These bills are not only harmful to the sportsmen and women of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but also to conservation funding. Law-abiding sportsmen and women continue to be punished and penalized through extreme and overreaching gun control laws. Such laws only impact law-abiding citizens who, by definition, do not commit the crimes that these bills are intended to address.