Update on Virginia ‘Assault Firearm’ Bans and Magazine Restrictions

February 10, 2026
10:40 am

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Thanks to the unyielding backbone of Virginia gun owners, the latest push for so-called assault firearm bans and magazine restrictions is hitting serious roadblocks. VCDL President Philip Van Cleave just dropped critical updates on HB 217, SB 749, and SB 727, revealing how these gun control bills—initially aimed at crippling your Second Amendment rights—have been watered down under pressure. No longer the sweeping prohibitions on AR-15s and standard-capacity magazines that anti-gunners dreamed of, these revisions strip out some of the most egregious overreaches, like outright bans on commonly owned rifles. It's a testament to grassroots activism: rallies, calls to legislators, and VCDL's relentless lobbying turned what could have been a Northam-era rerun into a defensive victory, at least for now. But let's cut through the fog—this isn't time to pop the champagne. These compromises still sneak in magazine limits and firearm restrictions that could set a dangerous precedent, chipping away at Virginia's status as a purple-state 2A stronghold. HB 217, for instance, pivots toward red flag expansions while SB 749 and SB 727 tinker with feature-based bans, echoing failed California-style schemes that courts have shredded (remember NYSRPA v. Bruen?). The implications for the broader 2A community are stark: if Virginia falls, it's a domino for swing states like Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, where urban Democrats salivate over suburban gun owners' arsenals. Van Cleave's intel underscores the playbook—stay vigilant, flood committee hearings, and vote like your holster depends on it, because it does. The fight's far from over, patriots. With session in full swing, VCDL is calling for maximum turnout to kill these zombies for good. This is why organizations like VCDL exist: to translate your resolve into legislative armor. Dive into Philip's full breakdown, arm yourself with the facts, and keep the pressure on—Virginia's gun owners just proved that organized resistance doesn't just delay tyranny; it dismantles it. Stay locked and loaded.

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But let’s cut through the fog—this isn’t time to pop the champagne. These compromises still sneak in magazine limits and firearm restrictions that could set a dangerous precedent, chipping away at Virginia’s status as a purple-state 2A stronghold. HB 217, for instance, pivots toward red flag expansions while SB 749 and SB 727 tinker with feature-based bans, echoing failed California-style schemes that courts have shredded (remember NYSRPA v. Bruen?). The implications for the broader 2A community are stark: if Virginia falls, it’s a domino for swing states like Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, where urban Democrats salivate over suburban gun owners’ arsenals. Van Cleave’s intel underscores the playbook—stay vigilant, flood committee hearings, and vote like your holster depends on it, because it does.

The fight’s far from over, patriots. With session in full swing, VCDL is calling for maximum turnout to kill these zombies for good. This is why organizations like VCDL exist: to translate your resolve into legislative armor. Dive into Philip’s full breakdown, arm yourself with the facts, and keep the pressure on—Virginia’s gun owners just proved that organized resistance doesn’t just delay tyranny; it dismantles it. Stay locked and loaded.

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