Virginia’s Democratic governor just signed one of the most sweeping assault weapons bans in the country — and the Trump Department of Justice is telling the state to expect a federal lawsuit.
Story Highlights
- Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a gun-control package banning the future sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of AR-15-style rifles and magazines over 15 rounds.
- The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division issued a formal warning letter threatening litigation if the assault weapons ban became law, citing Second Amendment protections.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon argues the ban unconstitutionally restricts firearms “in common use” by law-abiding Americans, relying on the Supreme Court’s post-Bruen legal framework.
- The National Rifle Association has already filed a state lawsuit challenging Virginia’s ban, with the Gun Owners of America and Virginia Citizens Defense League also signaling legal action.
Spanberger Signs — Then Makes the Ban Worse
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a package of gun-control bills and, in a move that stunned Second Amendment advocates, amended the proposed assault-firearms ban to make it even more restrictive before sending it back to lawmakers for final approval. [3] The legislation bans the future sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of covered semi-automatic firearms and magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds, with misdemeanor penalties for violations. [2] A companion measure also adjusts the definition of “assault weapons,” removing pistols from the covered category while tightening restrictions on rifles. [1]
The breadth of the law caught the attention of federal officials almost immediately. For millions of Virginians who legally own AR-15-style rifles for home defense, sport shooting, and hunting, the new restrictions represent a direct government intrusion into a constitutionally protected right. The law does not grandfather existing owners out of future transactions, effectively freezing the market for the most popular rifle platform in America. [2]
DOJ Issues Formal Warning: ‘See You in Court’
Before Spanberger’s signature was dry, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division had already put Virginia on notice. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon sent a formal letter to Virginia officials stating: “This letter provides formal notice that the Civil Rights Division will commence litigation in the event the Commonwealth of Virginia enacts certain bills that unconstitutionally limit law-abiding Americans’ individual right to bear arms.” [3] The warning was not a press release — it was an on-record federal constitutional objection delivered directly to state government.
Dhillon’s letter specifically cited House Bill 749, arguing it “would require Virginia law enforcement agencies to engage in a practice of unconstitutionally restricting the making, buying, or selling of AR-15s and many other semi-automatic firearms in common use.” [3] She further noted that “The Second Amendment protects the rights of law-abiding citizens to own and use AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles for lawful purposes,” citing Supreme Court recognition that such rifles are widely legal and owned by ordinary consumers. [3] The Department of Justice’s legal theory rests squarely on the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which replaced interest-balancing tests with a history-and-tradition analysis — a standard that categorical bans on commonly owned firearms have repeatedly struggled to survive. [2]
NRA Files Suit as Legal Battle Lines Form
The National Rifle Association (NRA) did not wait for the federal government to act first. The NRA announced the filing of a state lawsuit directly challenging Virginia’s newly enacted bans on assault firearms and magazines. [6] The Gun Owners of America, the Virginia Citizens Defense League, and the Department of Justice have all signaled they are prepared to pursue legal challenges, setting up what could become a landmark Second Amendment confrontation in the federal courts. [6]
'See You in Court:' DOJ Sues Virginia Over Assault Weapons Banhttps://t.co/hvyjsxm8HV
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Virginia is not alone in facing this kind of federal pushback. The Department of Justice has also taken aim at Washington, D.C.’s assault weapons ban, doubling down on its position that categorical prohibitions on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms cannot survive constitutional scrutiny under current Supreme Court doctrine. [4] The legal environment has shifted dramatically since Bruen, and states that rushed to pass sweeping gun bans are now finding themselves in the crosshairs of a federal government willing to enforce the Second Amendment. For law-abiding gun owners who have watched their rights eroded by activist politicians for years, the Trump administration’s aggressive legal posture is exactly the kind of constitutional defense they elected it to provide.
Sources:
[1] YouTube – Department of Justice threatens to sue VA over potential …
[2] Web – Virginia Bans AR-15s, DOJ Threatens Suit – Boise Gun Club
[3] Web – Spanberger signs gun bills, makes a proposed gun ban even harsher
[4] YouTube – DOJ Doubles Its Lawsuit Against D.C.
[6] Web – NRA Announces State Lawsuit Challenging Virginia’s “Assault …
