Virginia made national headlines earlier this year when Governor Abigail Spanberger signed HB 217/SB 749 – a sweeping semi-automatic gun and high-capacity magazine ban set to take effect July 1, 2026. Within 24 hours of the signing, multiple lawsuits landed in both state and federal court. On June 25, 2026, a Lancaster County Circuit Court judge granted a preliminary injunction in Crump v. Katz, blocking enforcement of the ban before it could take effect on July 1. A Washington County judge followed with his own injunction, clarifying it applies statewide. The ban is currently unenforceable through at least December 31, 2026.
As long as the injunction remains in effect and the legal status of Virginia’s assault weapons ban remains unsettled, GRITR Sports will continue shipping firearms to Virginia customers in full compliance with all currently enforceable state and federal laws. We will not preemptively restrict our customers’ access to lawfully purchasable firearms based on legislation that has been blocked by the courts. We are committed to serving Virginia’s law-abiding gun owners and will adjust our policies only if and when a court order compels us to do so.
Note: Some manufacturers can restrict the shipping of the item, so contact our support for more information if you’re ordering to VA.
The Overview of Virginia’s New Gun Laws 2026
We do not provide legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney. This information is provided for general informational purposes only.
The Assault Weapons Ban (HB217/SB749) – Currently Paused
HB 217/SB 749 bans the future sale, purchase, manufacture, importation, and transfer of certain semi-automatic firearms that meet the new assault weapon definition and magazines holding more than 15 rounds. Signed May 14, 2026, it was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026 but is currently under a statewide preliminary injunction and is not being enforced.
This law defines an “assault firearm” as:
Semi-automatic centerfire rifles with a detachable magazine and one or more of the following features:
- folding/telescoping/collapsible stock
- thumbhole stock
- pistol grip
- second handgrip or forward grip
- grenade launcher, or
- a threaded barrel capable of accepting a muzzle brake, compensator, suppressor, or flash hider
A standard AR-15 with a pistol grip and collapsible stock – like a Colt LE6920, Daniel Defense DDM4, or Smith & Wesson M&P Sport – falls squarely under the ban. The same goes for AK-style rifles (like PSAK-47, Zastava ZPAP M70) equipped with folding stocks or pistol grips, and most modern sporting rifles configured for duty use.
Semi-automatic centerfire pistols with a detachable magazine and two or more of the following features:
- second handgrip
- magazine that attaches outside the pistol grip
- barrel shroud
- threaded barrel
- buffer tube, arm brace, or similar part designed to allow shoulder firing
Semi-automatic shotguns with one or more of the following:
- folding/telescoping/collapsible stock
- thumbhole stock
- pistol grip
- detachable magazine
- fixed magazine capacity over 15 rounds
Any semi-automatic centerfire rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine capacity over 15 rounds, regardless of features. Shotguns with revolving cylinders and belt-fed firearms are also included.
Magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds – banned from sale, manufacture, importation, purchase, or transfer
What is NOT banned:
- Bolt-action, pump-action, lever-action, and slide-action firearms of any kind
- Antique firearms
- Permanently inoperable firearms
- Rimfire semi-automatics (such as the Ruger 10/22)
- Conventional fixed-stock semi-auto shotguns that don’t meet the shotgun feature test
- Magazines holding 15 rounds or fewer
The Grandfather Clause: If you already own a firearm or magazine that falls under the ban’s definitions, you are legally permitted to keep it. There is no registration requirement, and no confiscation. The ban targets future sales, purchases, transfers, and imports – not existing ownership.
What you cannot do with a grandfathered firearm (once the law is enforced): sell it to another Virginia resident or transfer it privately within the state. You may transfer it to an out-of-state buyer who is legally permitted to receive it, sell it to a licensed dealer, or pass it to an immediate family member (spouse, children, parents, grandparents, or siblings) as an estate transfer. Magazines follow the same logic.
Stripped lower receivers legally transferred before July 1, 2026, are legally considered “firearms.” While many believe this means they are automatically grandfathered for future builds, this remains a legal gray area. To play it safe, some legal experts recommend fully configuring your lower before the deadline to solidify its grandfathered status.
As of the date of this post, the ban is not enforced. The statewide injunction in Crump v. Katz blocks all enforcement through at least December 31, 2026, with further legal proceedings expected to extend well into 2027. The U.S. DOJ has also signaled its intent to file its own legal challenge.
2026 Virginia Gun Laws that ARE Currently in Effect
While the assault weapons ban is blocked, several other Virginia gun laws passed in 2026 are actively being enforced. Virginia gun owners need to be aware of the following:
Age Restriction (HB1525): You must be 21 or older to purchase a handgun or a covered semi-automatic long gun. This took effect immediately upon signing — there is no grace period.
Vehicle Storage (HB110/SB496): Leaving a firearm unattended in a vehicle where it is visible is now a Class 4 misdemeanor. If you need to leave a gun in your vehicle, it must be in a locked container and out of plain view.
High-Capacity Semi-Autos Carry (HB1524/SB727): Carrying any semi-automatic centerfire rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine capacity over 15 rounds on any public street, road, sidewalk, or public park is now prohibited. There is a carve-out for lawful hunting and recreational shooting activities only. There is no self-defense exception.
Campus Carry (HB626/SB272): Carrying firearms at Virginia’s public colleges and universities is now significantly restricted. Unless you are engaged in an authorized on-campus activity, carrying on campus is prohibited. If you live near, work at, or regularly visit a Virginia university campus, review the specifics of this law before carrying.
Concealed Carry Reciprocity (SB115): Virginia has revised the standards for recognizing out-of-state concealed carry permits. Virginia officials will review existing reciprocity status for other states between July 1 and December 1, 2026. If your home state’s permit was previously honored in Virginia, verify its current status before traveling through the state with a firearm. Do not assume last year’s reciprocity map still applies.
CCW Training Requirements (HB916): Expands the approved training courses for obtaining a concealed handgun permit removing the mandate that shooting courses must be conducted specifically by the NRA or USCCA. To qualify as an approved alternative to NRA or USCCA courses, a class must specifically teach three main criteria:
- efficient, effective, and responsible use of a concealed handgun for self-defense outside the home
- state laws pertaining to handguns; and
- proper handgun storage techniques
Ghost Guns (HB40/SB323): Manufacturing, possessing, or transferring unserialized or undetectable firearms is now prohibited, with no grandfather provision for unfinished frames and receivers. If you purchased an 80% lower or unfinished frame before the effective date and have not yet built it into a functional firearm, Virginia law still applies to your ownership of that part.
Safe Storage (HB871/SB348): If minors or prohibited persons live in your home, secure firearm storage is now legally required.
Polling Places (HB909): Carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a polling place entrance is now prohibited.
Firearm Industry Liability (HB21/SB27): This law creates new civil liability standards for firearm manufacturers, distributors, and retailers operating in Virginia. Companies are required to implement broadly defined “reasonable controls” over how firearms are sold, marketed, and distributed. The Attorney General, local government attorneys, and private individuals can all pursue litigation under this law. This is a state-level workaround of federal dealer protections and is already drawing legal scrutiny.
These laws are enforceable today. Know them, follow them, and consult a Virginia attorney if you have any questions about your specific situation.
We Are a Gun Store Virginians Can Order Guns From
Founded in 2007 as Webyshops in North Richland Hills, Texas – just outside Fort Worth – GRITR Sports has grown from a local online retailer into one of the region’s largest full-service firearms dealers.
Today, GRITR Sports operates a spacious brick-and-mortar retail store, two distribution warehouses, and an indoor shooting range for pistols and rifles.
Our online gun store at gritrsports.com ships nationwide, giving customers across the country access to one of the largest firearm and gear inventories available.
We offer:
- Extensive Selection: Pistols, revolvers, AR-platform rifles, bolt-action and lever-action rifles, shotguns, suppressors, optics, ammunition, tactical gear, and accessories from more than 500 brands – including Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Benelli, Beretta, Taurus, Magpul, Leupold, Vortex, and Holosun, among many others.
- Competitive Pricing: We won’t claim to have the lowest price on every item, but our pricing is consistently competitive. We also regularly feature exclusive deals, sales, and manufacturer rebates – check our Deals and Rebates tabs for current offers.
- A Community, Not Just a Store: GRITR Sports was built on a genuine passion for the shooting sports. Our indoor range provides a safe, welcoming space for shooters of all experience levels to practice and connect with others who share their interest in the sport.
- Knowledgeable Staff: Our team is made up of enthusiasts who know the products they sell. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned collector, you’ll get honest, informed guidance.
GRITR Sports has always believed that law-abiding Americans have the right to purchase, own, and use firearms lawfully. We will continue to serve Virginia customers for as long as the law allows us to do so.
Leave a Reply