VA: Gun & Magazine Ban One Step Away From Governor’s Desk – TAKE ACTION

February 26, 2026
11:20 am

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Virginia lawmakers are barreling toward a Second Amendment nightmare with HB 217, a draconian gun and magazine ban that's now just one signature away from Governor Glenn Youngkin's desk. This isn't some fringe proposal—it's a sweeping assault on law-abiding gun owners, prohibiting the importation, sale, manufacture, purchase, and transfer of so-called assault firearms. The bill's feature-based definition is a shotgun blast of vagueness, roping in popular semi-automatics like AR-15s, many pistols, and even some shotguns based on evil features like pistol grips or adjustable stocks. And don't get me started on the standard-capacity magazine ban—it criminalizes the tools millions of Virginians already own for self-defense, hunting, and sport. This is red-flag legislation disguised as common-sense reform, straight out of the Michael Bloomberg playbook. Context matters here: Virginia's Northam-era gun grabs in 2020 sparked massive 2A sanctuary movements across 90+ counties and cities, flipping the script on Democrat control and helping deliver Youngkin's 2021 upset victory. Fast-forward to today, and HB 217 reeks of payback from a slim Democratic majority in the legislature, emboldened by urban strongholds like Fairfax and Richmond. It's not about public safety—violent crime in Virginia is down overall, per FBI stats, while these bans target the most-owned rifles in America (over 20 million AR-platforms nationwide). The implications? A chilling effect on the secondary market, forcing owners into a grandfathered limbo where selling or transferring becomes a legal minefield. This sets a precedent for feature bans nationwide, eroding the Heller decision's core protections and priming the pump for confiscation down the line. 2A warriors, this is your wake-up call—flood Governor Youngkin's office with calls (804-786-2211), emails, and social media blasts demanding a veto. Contact your state reps too; tools like the Virginia Citizens Defense League's action center make it dead simple. We've beaten this beast before—Youngkin vetoed similar bills last year. If it lands on his desk unsigned, it'll be a gut punch to Virginia's gun culture and a signal to antis everywhere that the resistance is weakening. Stand firm, curate the truth, and let's bury HB 217 where it belongs: in the veto pile. Your rights depend on it.

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Virginia lawmakers are barreling toward a Second Amendment nightmare with HB 217, a draconian gun and magazine ban that’s now just one signature away from Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk. This isn’t some fringe proposal—it’s a sweeping assault on law-abiding gun owners, prohibiting the importation, sale, manufacture, purchase, and transfer of so-called assault firearms. The bill’s feature-based definition is a shotgun blast of vagueness, roping in popular semi-automatics like AR-15s, many pistols, and even some shotguns based on evil features like pistol grips or adjustable stocks. And don’t get me started on the standard-capacity magazine ban—it criminalizes the tools millions of Virginians already own for self-defense, hunting, and sport. This is red-flag legislation disguised as common-sense reform, straight out of the Michael Bloomberg playbook.

Context matters here: Virginia’s Northam-era gun grabs in 2020 sparked massive 2A sanctuary movements across 90+ counties and cities, flipping the script on Democrat control and helping deliver Youngkin’s 2021 upset victory. Fast-forward to today, and HB 217 reeks of payback from a slim Democratic majority in the legislature, emboldened by urban strongholds like Fairfax and Richmond. It’s not about public safety—violent crime in Virginia is down overall, per FBI stats, while these bans target the most-owned rifles in America (over 20 million AR-platforms nationwide). The implications? A chilling effect on the secondary market, forcing owners into a grandfathered limbo where selling or transferring becomes a legal minefield. This sets a precedent for feature bans nationwide, eroding the Heller decision’s core protections and priming the pump for confiscation down the line.

2A warriors, this is your wake-up call—flood Governor Youngkin’s office with calls (804-786-2211), emails, and social media blasts demanding a veto. Contact your state reps too; tools like the Virginia Citizens Defense League’s action center make it dead simple. We’ve beaten this beast before—Youngkin vetoed similar bills last year. If it lands on his desk unsigned, it’ll be a gut punch to Virginia’s gun culture and a signal to antis everywhere that the resistance is weakening. Stand firm, curate the truth, and let’s bury HB 217 where it belongs: in the veto pile. Your rights depend on it.

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