With New Democrat Governor, Virginia Lawmakers Advance Several Anti-Gun Bills

February 2, 2026
8:00 am

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Anti-gun lawmakers in Virginia are hitting the ground running under their shiny new Democrat governor, wasting no time shoving a slate of restrictive bills down the throats of law-abiding gun owners. Fresh off the electoral high of flipping the governorship blue, the Democratic supermajority in the state legislature is advancing measures that would expand red flag laws, impose mandatory safe storage mandates with hefty fines, and hike fees on concealed carry permits—classic incrementalism dressed up as common-sense safety. This isn't just legislative housekeeping; it's a full-frontal assault on Second Amendment rights in a state that only a few years ago stood as a bulwark against such overreach during the 2020 gun rights sanctuary rebellion. The context here is pure political opportunism. Virginia's swing-state status made it a battleground in 2019 when Democrats seized the General Assembly and promptly tried (and partially failed) to ram through an assault weapons ban, one-handgun-a-month limits, and magazine caps—sparking massive recalls, sheriffs' refusals to enforce, and a wave of Second Amendment sanctuaries covering over 90% of the state's counties. Fast-forward to today: with Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (or whoever clinches it, but the Dem momentum is clear) in the offing, they're smelling blood, betting that national fatigue post-election will mute the backlash. But don't kid yourself—this is the same playbook from blue states like New York and California, where gun violence epidemics are code for disarming citizens while criminals roam free. Data from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows concealed carry permit holders are among the most law-abiding demographics, yet here we are, punishing them to score political points. For the 2A community, the implications are stark: mobilize now or watch Virginia become the next test case for how far Democrats can push before the courts (or voters) slap them down. Recall the 2021 GOP resurgence that killed similar bills—history rhymes, but only if we make noise. Gun owners should flood Richmond with calls, support pro-2A PACs like the Virginia Citizens Defense League, and eye the 2025 elections like hawks. This isn't just Virginia's fight; it's a warning shot for purple states everywhere. Stay vigilant, armed, and vocal—our rights depend on it.

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The context here is pure political opportunism. Virginia’s swing-state status made it a battleground in 2019 when Democrats seized the General Assembly and promptly tried (and partially failed) to ram through an assault weapons ban, one-handgun-a-month limits, and magazine caps—sparking massive recalls, sheriffs’ refusals to enforce, and a wave of Second Amendment sanctuaries covering over 90% of the state’s counties. Fast-forward to today: with Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (or whoever clinches it, but the Dem momentum is clear) in the offing, they’re smelling blood, betting that national fatigue post-election will mute the backlash. But don’t kid yourself—this is the same playbook from blue states like New York and California, where gun violence epidemics are code for disarming citizens while criminals roam free. Data from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows concealed carry permit holders are among the most law-abiding demographics, yet here we are, punishing them to score political points.

For the 2A community, the implications are stark: mobilize now or watch Virginia become the next test case for how far Democrats can push before the courts (or voters) slap them down. Recall the 2021 GOP resurgence that killed similar bills—history rhymes, but only if we make noise. Gun owners should flood Richmond with calls, support pro-2A PACs like the Virginia Citizens Defense League, and eye the 2025 elections like hawks. This isn’t just Virginia’s fight; it’s a warning shot for purple states everywhere. Stay vigilant, armed, and vocal—our rights depend on it.

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