Virginia Judge Says Injunction on ‘Assault Firearm’ Ban Applies Statewide

Ever since a Washington County, Virginia circuit court judge granted an injunction against the state’s new ban on “assault firearms”, there’s been confusion over the scope of the judge’s order. The NRA and other plaintiffs in the case have argued the injunction applies to all law enforcement throughout the state, while Attorney General Jay Jones has argued that the injunction applies only to the named defendants in the suit, but that local law enforcement outside of the state police and the four Commonwealth’s Attorneys who are named can still enforce the ban. 

Now the judge has issued a letter clarifying the scope of the injunction and concurring with the NRA and other plaintiffs that the ban is enjoined from being enforced throughout the Old Dominion. 

Nice try, @AGJayJones @SpanbergerForVA. pic.twitter.com/nKMWblrXqn

— NRA (@NRA) July 8, 2026

The judge set July 21 as the effective date of the injunction in order to “allow adequate time for the delivery” of the injunction to all law enforcement, which is too generous, in my opinion. This information doesn’t have to be delivered on horseback, after all. 

Still, that’s really the only complaint I have with the judge’s decision. He expressed concern that, without a universal injunction, a “treacherous patchwork” of enforcement could be in place that could still render the plaintiffs vulnerable to arrest or prosecution. He also noted that while the U.S. Supreme Court has cast doubt on the constitutionality of nationwide injunctions, the General Assembly in Virginia has given a “broad grant of authority to award injunctions, within and without of the Circuit, and in matters involving statewide application.” 

So, assuming the injunction is still in place on July 21, gun shops across Virginia are again going to be flooded with customers; this time making celebratory purchases instead of stocking up on firearms before their sale is banned. 

Virginia, we’re back.
A statewide injunction goes into effect July 21st, and Palmetto State Armory will begin accepting Virginia orders today.
Orders will be held until we are legally able to ship on July 21st.
Thank you to everyone who stood strong, stayed patient, and kept… pic.twitter.com/U3bKYpYxBQ

— Palmetto State Armory (@palmettoarmory) July 8, 2026

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has already appealed the Washington County injunction, and it’s possible that the Court of Appeals or Virginia Supreme Court could overturn the circuit court’s opinion and allow for the law to be fully enforced. With the U.S. Supreme Court granting cert to a lawsuit challenging similar bans in Cook County, Illinois and the state of Connecticut, though, I think there’s a good argument to be made that it makes sense to keep the law on ice until the highest court in the land has said whether prohibitions on the sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of commonly-owned arms can co-exist with our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. 

In a statement, NRA-ILA executive director John Commerford hailed the judge’s clarification on the scope of the injunction, saying a “Virginia court has made it unmistakably clear: this blatant violation of constitutional rights cannot be enforced by any law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth.” 

This is a historic victory for gun owners and the rule of law. It ensures that law-abiding Virginians will not have their rights stripped away while our challenge proceeds. The NRA and our world-class legal team will continue fighting in court until this unconstitutional measure is permanently removed from the books.”

Congratulations to the NRA, Virginia Shooting Sports Association, and the other plaintiffs in Santolla v. Katz, as well as state Sen. Bill Stanley, who’s the lead counsel for the plaintiffs. Today’s clarification is exactly what Virginia Second Amendment advocates were hoping to hear, and will surely be a bitter disappointment to gun banners like Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Jones, and groups like Everytown and Giffords. 

Editor’s Note: Second Amendment advocates across the country are doing everything they can to protect our right to keep and bear arms and our right to armed self-defense. 

Help us continue to report on their efforts and legal successes like this one. Join Bearing Arms VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.