A sweeping gun-control measure concentrating on generally owned semi-automatic firearms and magazines has formally cleared the Virginia Normal Meeting and is now headed to the governor’s desk.
On March 9, 2026, the Virginia Senate voted 21–19 to comply with the Home substitute for Senate Invoice 749, finalizing passage of the laws after the Home had already authorized its amended model earlier within the week.
The invoice beforehand handed the Home of Delegates on March 4 by a vote of 59–35 after lawmakers adopted a substitute modification provided by Delegate Dan Helmer.
As a result of the Senate accepted the Home model with out additional modifications, SB749 has now handed each chambers in equivalent kind and will likely be despatched to the governor for last motion.
What SB749 Would Do
SB749 would prohibit the acquisition, sale, manufacture, and switch of sure firearms categorized within the invoice as “assault firearms,” together with sure large-capacity ammunition feeding gadgets.
Beneath the laws:
Importing, promoting, buying, or transferring a prohibited firearm could be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Violators might additionally face a three-year prohibition on possessing firearms following a conviction.
The invoice additionally restricts the sale or switch of sure large-capacity magazines outlined within the statute.
The proposal contains exceptions for firearms comparable to vintage firearms or operated by hand firearms like bolt-action, pump-action, or lever-action weapons.
Critics argue the laws targets firearms which are extensively owned by law-abiding Individuals for lawful functions, together with self-defense, competitors, and leisure taking pictures.
Second Modification advocates say the invoice represents one other try to limit generally owned firearms moderately than deal with violent criminals. John Commerford, Govt Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Motion (NRA-ILA), sharply criticized the measure after it cleared the legislature.
“Gun-grabbing politicians in Virginia are leaving no stone unturned of their relentless pursuit to harass and disarm lawful gun house owners,” Commerford stated. “These excessive payments heading to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s desk characterize one more blatant try to implement sweeping bans on generally owned firearms and important firearm components. Regulation-abiding Virginians deserve higher than this continued assault on their constitutional rights—and if Governor Spanberger indicators these payments into regulation, we are going to see her in courtroom.”
Gun-rights teams say the measure will probably face rapid authorized challenges if signed into regulation, significantly in mild of current federal courtroom selections making use of the Supreme Courtroom’s Bruen customary to fashionable gun rules.
The ultimate Senate vote once more confirmed how sharply divided Virginia lawmakers stay on gun coverage. The measure initially handed the Senate in February by the identical slim 21–19 margin earlier than transferring to the Home.
Supporters of the invoice say the restrictions are meant to deal with violent crime involving sure firearms.
Gun-rights advocates, nonetheless, argue the measure punishes lawful gun house owners moderately than criminals and will have an effect on a few of the mostly owned firearms in the USA.
With legislative approval full, SB749 now goes to the governor for consideration.
The governor can:
Signal the invoice into regulation
Veto the invoice
Or return it with advisable amendments
If signed, the measure would develop into probably the most unconstitutional gun management legal guidelines enacted in Virginia lately.
For gun house owners in Virginia, the struggle over SB749 is probably going removed from over. Measures that ban firearms generally owned for lawful functions have more and more drawn constitutional challenges below the Supreme Courtroom’s Bruen customary, which requires fashionable gun legal guidelines to align with the nation’s historic custom of firearm regulation.
Ought to SB749 develop into regulation, it’s extensively anticipated to face rapid authorized challenges from gun-rights organizations and Second Modification advocates.
Breaking Down Virginia With NRA-ILA Govt Director John Commerford
