Authored by Tim O’Brien via PJMedia.com,
As the Virginia General Assembly has approved what they refer to as an “assault weapon ban” bill, all eyes are now on Gov. Abigail Spanberger to sign it into law, a move that is highly anticipated. Once signed, Senate Bill 749 is expected to come into effect on July 1, 2026.
The legislation will prohibit the sale, import, manufacture, purchase, and transfer of what is defined as “assault firearms,” including high-capacity magazines capable of holding 15 rounds or more. Violations of the law will be considered a “Class 1 misdemeanor,” carrying penalties of up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine for a first offense.
Although SB 749 does not explicitly outlaw AR-15 rifles, they will effectively be banned as they fall under the bill’s definition of assault weapons.
The sponsor of this stringent gun control bill is Bangladeshi immigrant, Saddam Azlan Salim, who has been serving in the Virginia Senate since 2024. The bill, which passed the state’s Senate by a narrow margin of 21-19 on Feb. 9, will make guns with pistol grips, retractable stocks, and large magazines illegal for sale in Virginia.
The House voted 59-35 for a substitute version of the bill on March 4, with the Senate approving the substitute bill on March 9. With just one signature needed to make it law, Second Amendment advocates anticipate a legal battle that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) emphasized that the banned items are not “rare or unusual,” stating that “these are not unusual items.”
In response to the bill’s passage, GOA released a statement, saying in part:
SB 749 is a blatant, unconstitutional attack on the people of Virginia and a direct violation of our God-given right to keep and bear arms. It is the latest attempt by an anti-gun Democrat legislature to strip citizens of their rights while claiming to enhance safety.
Instead of targeting criminals, it targets law-abiding citizens. It penalizes peaceful Virginians for exercising a constitutional right.
Furthermore, this bill is expected to lead to costly litigation for Virginia taxpayers, who will be required to fund the state’s defense of clearly infringing legislation.
If you carry a handgun with a magazine capacity exceeding 10 rounds, you may be affected by this law. If this is what a moderate Democrat supports, the implications of an extremist stance are concerning.