Judge Blocks Virginia’s Assault Weapons Ban Days Before It Was To Take Effect

Virginia’s ban on so-called assault weapons has been blocked, just days before it was scheduled to take effect.A Lancaster County circuit judge, John Martin, granted a preliminary injunction during a hearing on Thursday, preventing the state from enforcing the law. Judge Martin ruled that the description of firearms to be banned under the law lacked a rational basis.Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 749 in May, banning the sale, importation, or manufacture of semi-automatic weapons, often referred to as “assault-style weapons.” But some county prosecutors said they would not enforce the law, which was set to take effect on July 1.The Spotsylvania County commonwealth’s attorney, Ryan Mehaffey, told ABC7 in May that “constitutional officers in Virginia” should “come out and clearly state” that the ban “cannot be lawfully enforced.” The ban was also challenged by a group of firearms associations, such as the Gun Owners of America and the Virginia Citizens Defense League. .During Thursday’s hearing, attorneys for the state argued that the type of guns that would be affected by the law are not common and, therefore, would not be protected by the Second Amendment. But an attorney for the plaintiffs shot back, saying they are “not just common, they are ubiquitous.”The lawyer continued: “The challenged statutes in this case concern some of the most commonly used arms and magazines in the nation.”In a statement, Virginia’s attorney general, Jay Jones, said, “This ruling is disappointing and puts our communities at risk. The commonwealth will urgently file a motion to stay this ruling and appeal this temporary injunction.”He added: “We will continue to vigorously defend Virginia’s assault weapons ban and magazine capacity restrictions and uphold the laws designed to keep Virginians safe.”A Virginia state senator, Mark Obenshain, celebrated the ruling, writing on X, “A Lancaster County Circuit judge has rightly stepped in to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the unconstitutional ‘assault weapons’ ban just six days before it was set to take effect.”Mr. Obenshain said the law would have restricted “virtually every standard semi-automatic handgun and rifle sold in Virginia.”

Judge Blocks Virginia’s Assault Weapons Ban Days Before It Was To Take Effect

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