As soon as Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed one of the more polarizing gun safety bills from the 2026 General Assembly session — a ban on assault-style firearms — the Fairfax-based National Rifle Association vowed to fight the ban with a lawsuit.
The pair of bills from state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37) and Del. Dan Helmer (D-10), who represent parts of Fairfax County, will ban the sale and manufacture of “assault firearms” and magazines with the capacity of more than 15 rounds. The legislation provides exemptions to guns owned before the law becomes effective on July 1, 2026 but will ban new purchases starting on that date.
Spanberger said her experience as a former federal law enforcement officer motivated her support for the ban.
“I am signing this bill into law because firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets,” Spanberger said in a statement. “We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe.”
Although the bills include exemptions for inoperable, manually-operated or antique guns and government duty, the General Assembly did not accept Spanberger’s amendment that would have exempted certain guns used for hunting.
“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,” Spanberger said.
In response to the upcoming ban, the NRA filed state and federal lawsuits with the Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation and two NRA members last Thursday (May 14). The lawsuit claims the new law violates the Constitution by banning commonly-owned guns like the AR-15 rifle.
NRA spokesperson Justin Davis told FFXnow the new law is “the largest attack on Second Amendment rights Virginia’s ever seen.”
The state lawsuit, filed in Washington County in southwest Virginia, seeks a preliminary injunction to stop the legislation from being implemented on July 1 and calls for the Virginia Supreme Court to strike the law down. The federal-level lawsuit was filed due “national implications,” Davis says.
“We knew this day would come, and our team of world-class attorneys that were prepared, and that’s why we were able to file easily following her signature before that could even dry,” Davis said. “We’re going to exhaust every option possible to make sure that those rights are protected, and we feel confident that our court cases will do that.”
The bill sponsors celebrated Spanberger’s approval of their legislation, which has been a Democratic priority in recent years.
Salim, who represents Tysons, Vienna, Oakton, Fairfax City and Falls Church, said the legislation’s passage is a testament to the work of advocates long before he joined the General Assembly in 2024.
“When I ran for State Senate against an incumbent who voted against prior versions of an assault weapons ban, the people who believed in this vision stood with me to make the impossible possible,” Salim said. “I am deeply grateful to my colleagues who gave me the opportunity in my third session to lead as chief patron of this bill, building on years of prior efforts to protect our communities from weapons of war.”
Helmer, a veteran who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars whose district includes Centreville and Clifton, has tried to pass the legislation in past sessions only to meet a veto from former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).
“Weapons similar to those that I carried serving in combat zones have no place in our schools, in our churches, and on our streets,” Helmer said in a statement. “Virginians have been on the precipice of finally banning these dangerous weapons before – but this time, we have a Governor who has actually served in law enforcement and understands what it means to protect our neighborhoods.”
Dan Helmer photo via Facebook
