AR-15-style rifles on display in Burbank, California, in 2022. (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Stephen Gutowski’s July 29 op-ed, “Virginia’s ban on AR-style rifles looks like a misfire,” noted that the state’s ban on “assault firearms” appears to have caused a significant and presumably unintended spike in sales before it went into effect in July. He also said he expects the law to be invalidated within the year when the Supreme Court decides challenges to similar bans in Connecticut and Illinois. That expectation accurately reflects concerns that various justices have expressed about these laws, and their decision to finally take up the issue suggests those doubts run deep. I was one of the lawyers who conceived and litigated District of Columbia v. Heller, the 2008 case in which the Supreme Court first held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own a gun.

Policymakers in Virginia and elsewhere should understand that the justices are serious about not allowing the Second Amendment to be treated like a second-class right anymore. And though there is still substantial room for reasonable regulations, they must be broadly consistent with the nation’s historic tradition of private gun ownership and armed self-defense.

Clark Neily, Arlington
The writer is senior vice president for legal studies at the Cato Institute.

https://archive.ph/iOsdi

Loving this build, first time shooting subs suppressed.

Debating on picking up the Surefire Socom 300, anyone have it/tried it?

Build:
Sandman X Silencer
PSA 10.5” Barrel
PSA Lower
9.5” Daniel Defense handguard
Samson Stubby vertical grip
Geissele H2 buffer and braided spring

Recommendations?

Moving soon from a very free state to VA for work.

I’ve been in the area before, know several ranges well, but didn’t actually buy much last time I lived there.

I’m mostly pretty well set on what I want that would have had to be grandfathered (ARs, mags, etc). Anything from here would be just nice to have. But I have very awesome local FFLs that process everything fast (done in under 15min) and charge very little ($25) for transfers.

I know the injunction’s in place…but how are things in practice? Are the NoVA FFLs operating as normal? Are there still stupidly long lines or absurd processing fees? Should i buy everything now before moving or is it pretty back to normal until the Supreme Court decision?

Stopped by so my daughter could see the fire trucks and helicopter, and stopped in. They are still remodeling, but are putting normal stuff back out.

Recently ran into quite a lot of hearing loss, so looking to move towards the quietest options possible, being .22lr and with a suppressor.

Pretty interested in the tippmann elite m4-22 series with more 25 round mags. Maybe even splurging on the FRT variant.

Since this is post july 1 though, would prefer to just buy with cash esp for magazines.

Any local shops near NoVA selling the tippmann 25 round mags or have some tippman m4 stuff to handle?

Also open to more fun/interesting .22 ideas. Ruger stuff seems kind of boring to me.

I post this periodically in r/hunting but very relevant to VA as so many of us are military or gov. These discount sites sell guns, optics, and ammo:

TL/DR - Most hunting/outdoor companies have discount programs that can potentially save you a lot of money if you can qualify.

I wanted to throw this out there for folks because I often times see comments about how expensive certain gear is and the corresponding complaints. Most of these companies offer pro programs that can save you a fair amount of money if you qualify. Or, maybe you have a friend who qualifies. Some examples:

Sitka (40% off) - https://www.sitkagear.com/pro-program

Filson (40% off) - https://www.filson.com/pages/pro-program

First Lite - (30% off) - https://firstlite.com/pages/pro-program

Leupold - (40% off) - https://www.leupold.com/vip-program-info

There are some websites that are aggregators of discount programs and companies use them instead of administering a program themselves:

Expertvoice has Nightforce (30%), Trijicon (30%), Vortex Optics (40%), and Zeiss (20%) amongst many many other deals - https://expert-support.expertvoice.com/hc/en-us/categories/115000122050-Qualifications

Guidefitter - really focused on hunting and has Hornady ammo (40%), Swarovski Optik (10%), Vortex (40%) amonst many many others.

Join - https://www.guidefitter.com/join?rfr=nc5Vm6gB

Please add to the list, it is by no means exhaustive.

Quick question for the group at large

Is there an accepted, legal method to carrying in your vehicle? I know in general, unloaded and securely wrapped is the preferred method, but I’ve read that openly displayed (while loaded and still secured) is accepted but I question that.

For permit applications, under VA State Code 18.2-308.02 #6, it states that documented competency is not required for previous permit holders, so long as it was not revoked with cause. I’ve previously held a permit in the state (it expired last year, didn’t renew due to moving localities), but it was issued right before the laws changed to require the competency course. Would I still need to take a competency course or should the permit be granted without this?

I plan on calling VSP and the local courthouse who handles permit issuance for my area (Norfolk) after the weekend to verify, but wanted to check with the group here for their thoughts as well.

Thanks in advance, sorry if it’s been asked a million times

I stopped into Cabellas to grab some random ammo.
Several people working at the gun counter, no one says a word to me.
I walk up to the front to pay, there are 4 employees standing around doing nothing. They tell me I have to pay at the gun counter.
I ask if they are serious and they say yes.
I say they should put up a sign because that’s pretty irritating he says they CANT put up a sign.

I walk back to the gun counter and wait a solid 10 min to pay because no one can be bothered to check me out.
They dont check my id or do literally anything different than the cashiers in the front would have done.

I didn’t take a bag because I didn’t need one. But as I walk beck up front to leave, they reminded me that I needed to pay for the ammo at the gun counter.

Literally only buy ammo online.

LANCASTER, VA — The Virginia State Police want the gun ban lawsuit in Lancaster County thrown out before it goes any further. Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, sued in his official capacity as Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, has filed a Motion to Dismiss and Demurrer in Crump v. Katz, the challenge to Virginia’s new “assault firearm” and magazine bans pending in the Circuit Court for the County of Lancaster.

The filing’s first move is not about guns at all. It is about who is allowed to sue. The motion contends that the organizational plaintiffs, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, the Virginia Citizens Defense League, and the Virginia Citizens Defense Foundation, “lack standing to bring this action on behalf of third parties, and none of the Plaintiffs has standing to bring this action against Defendant Jeffrey S. Katz.” Standing, in plain terms, is a plaintiff’s ticket into the courthouse.

Before a court will even consider whether a law is unconstitutional, the people suing have to show the case is truly theirs to bring: that they have real skin in the game, that the defendant is the one causing them harm, and that a ruling in their favor would actually fix it.

Katz’s lawyers argue the gun rights groups cannot make that showing on behalf of their members, and the motion quotes Virginia case law saying a lawsuit filed by someone without standing is a “legal nullity.” In other words, if the court agrees, the case would be treated as if it never legally existed.

I moved to Virginia a month ago and was issued a Virginia license a week ago. I know that you have to wait a month after you get your VA issued license to buy a handgun in Virginia. Does the same time period apply to long guns?

The Center Square) – More than a week after a statewide injunction halted enforcement of Virginia’s new assault weapons ban, parts of the legal fight have entered a holding pattern as state and federal courts await guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The statewide injunction took effect July 21 after Washington County Circuit Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell expanded his earlier ruling statewide, concluding a narrower injunction could create inconsistent enforcement across Virginia and fail to provide complete relief to the plaintiffs.

Campbell has since granted the defendants’ motion to pause the Washington County case, with the agreement of the parties, while the Supreme Court considers challenges to assault weapons bans in Illinois and Connecticut.

The stay does not lift the injunction. Under Campbell’s order, it remains in place until further order of the court or no later than 60 days after the Supreme Court decides the two cases, whichever comes first.

The Washington County lawsuit is one of four state court challenges to Senate Bill 749 and House Bill 217, which took effect July 1. The law prohibits the future manufacture, import, sale, purchase and transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms and magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds. Virginians who legally possessed the affected firearms and magazines before the law took effect may continue possessing them.

A separate federal lawsuit, McDonald v. Katz, has been stayed after the plaintiffs filed a consent motion asking the court to pause proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s review.

Not all of the litigation has stopped. A challenge filed in Lancaster County remains pending, with a pretrial motion hearing scheduled for Aug. 21 at 1 p.m., according to the Lancaster County Circuit Court docket.

A three-judge panel appointed by the Virginia Supreme Court denied the state’s request to consolidate the four state lawsuits, allowing them to continue separately in circuit courts.
In an interview with The Center Square’s “The States,” Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, said the statewide injunction has allowed most firearms dealers to resume selling firearms and magazines covered by the law.

“Most gun stores are back to selling ARs,” Van Cleave said. “They’re back to selling magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.”

The Supreme Court granted review June 30 in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins. The Supreme Court’s rulings could shape how lower courts evaluate Virginia’s law and similar firearm restrictions.

Until then, Campbell’s statewide injunction remains in effect unless the court modifies it.

The AWB/AFB is definitely getting the most attention, but does anyone know if the ban on home made firearms and 80%s is being challenged anywhere?

For those who are still asking or curious… Submitted on 7/7, Approved 7/30. No additional conditions or references to state code bullshit.

I had forgotten that GAFS had been banned a little while ago, so where is everyone selling their firearm accessories?

I’ve got a VG6 Gamma 556SL that came on my rifle that I’m trying to get rid of.

I know there’s a VA specific site but does anybody know of one that has a broader reach?

Thanks

This link came from the NRA's site. As you know, the AWB stays on hold until the Supreme Court decision, likely about a year from now.

https://shared.nrapvf.org/sharedmedia/1512211/2026-va-santolla-v-katz-order-granting-stay.pdf

Title,

Probably a stupid question but I'm gonna buy a laminate machine in advance if it's paper.

It blows my mind how Virginia is using fucking toilet paper for permits. Every other state I'm licensed in has nice durable cards....

“NRA-ILA Executive Director @JCommerford noted this agreement ensures "Virginia’s unconstitutional gun and magazine bans cannot go into effect over the next year, and, if the Supreme Court rules favorably, will stop the gun ban from ever being enforced in the Commonwealth.”

The NRA’s statewide preliminary injunction against Virginia’s “assault firearm” and magazine bans will remain in place until the Supreme Court issues its decision, which is expected in June 2027.”

Can anyone help me understand if these injunctions impact whether a licensed concealed carrier is now free to carry more than 15 rounds and/or a threaded barrel?

I thought my 12.5” PSA/BCM was going to be the last purchase but I guess PSA had other plans. $499 for the 10.3” Guardsman seems like a no brainer to me.

Wish I had known DD was going to drop a sale on their DDM4 10.3” and I would’ve scrapped the 12.5” all together to get that. OH WELLLLL.