Virginia assault-firearm restrictions set misdemeanor penalty as injunction status remains unresolved

Virginia’s updated assault-firearm statute makes importing, selling, manufacturing, purchasing or transferring an assault firearm a Class 1 misdemeanor, subject to the law’s exemptions and grandfather-related exceptions. The Code section is dated July 26, 2026.

The restrictions affect firearm dealers and owners, as well as law-enforcement agencies that may be responsible for applying the law. But a separate court challenge leaves an important enforcement question unresolved in the available records: whether an injunction reported in mid-July took effect statewide after its stated deadline.

Axios reported July 13 that a Washington County judge said an injunction involving the law would expand statewide on July 21 unless a higher court intervened. The supplied source packet does not include a later court order or docket update showing whether that expansion occurred, was blocked or was changed.

What the statute prohibits

Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced June 17 that she had signed legislation prohibiting future sales of assault-style weapons. Her office said the legislation does not apply to firearms bought or owned before July 1, 2026.

The enacted Code provision covers more conduct than a sale alone. It identifies importing, selling, manufacturing, purchasing and transferring an assault firearm as prohibited conduct and assigns a Class 1 misdemeanor penalty.

The statutory language also includes specified exceptions for government, military, law-enforcement and federally licensed activities. Those exceptions are part of the law’s scope and mean the provision should not be described as covering every activity involving an assault firearm.

For firearms lawfully purchased and possessed before July 1, 2026, the statute permits certain transfers or sales. The listed grandfather-related exceptions include sales to dealers and sales to people outside Virginia who may lawfully possess the firearms.

July 1 is the key ownership reference date

July 1, 2026, is the key date in the official materials for firearms that were already bought or owned. The governor’s announcement describes the legislation as applying to future sales, while the Code section separately provides exceptions for certain firearms lawfully purchased and possessed before that date.

For dealers, owners and law-enforcement agencies, the distinction between future transactions and firearms covered by the grandfather-related provisions is central. The statute’s penalty applies to the listed conduct, but the available official materials also identify exemptions and permitted transactions in specified circumstances.

Court challenge leaves statewide status unsettled

The Axios report identified the assault-weapons case as one of several lawsuits challenging major Virginia laws. Its account set July 21 as the date when the Washington County judge’s injunction would expand statewide unless a higher court intervened.

That report establishes the reported deadline, not the result after it passed. Neither the updated statute nor the governor’s June announcement resolves the later litigation question, and the supplied materials do not establish the current statewide scope of enforcement.

The next known step for confirming that status would be a current court order or docket entry addressing the injunction. Until such a record is available, it cannot be determined from the supplied sources whether the reported injunction ultimately expanded statewide, was halted by a higher court or was modified in another way.

The legal text remains significant because it specifies both the Class 1 misdemeanor penalty and the exceptions that apply to particular activities and certain pre-July 1 firearms. The unresolved court record is significant because it could determine whether those restrictions remain enforceable across the Commonwealth.

Sources

• Code of Virginia § 18.2-287.4:1, Virginia General Assembly
• Governor signs package of gun-violence prevention legislation, Office of Gov. Abigail Spanberger
• The lawsuits that could stop 3 major Virginia laws, Axios