Virginia's ban on new sales of the AR-15 rifle and other guns will stay blocked until after the US Supreme Court rules on similar restrictions in other states, decisions that will likely come in 2027.
State Democrats used their General Assembly majority to pass legislation to prohibit purchases and sales of semiautomatic firearms that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition starting July 1, 2026.
It was met with immediate legal challenges that were recently put on pause to allow the Supreme Court to first review two similar bans, one in Illinois and another in Connecticut, next term.
Court orders putting the cases on hold were finalized after a Washington County judge overseeing one Virginia case granted a preliminary injunction putting the state's ban on hold starting on July 21.
Both sides of the legal battle — including the US Justice Department, Virginians and pro-gun rights groups that sued, and Attorney General Jay Jones' office defending the ban — agreed on waiting for the highest court's rulings.
But Virginia's ban sitting in limbo was hailed as a victory by the National Rifle Association, one of the state-level plaintiffs.
"We stopped this insane, radical gun-grab in its tracks," Justin Davis, NRA public affairs director, said in a Thursday interview.
Under the "assault weapons" ban, Virginians would be barred from buying, manufacturing, transferring or importing semiautomatic rifles, pistols, shotguns and other firearms. It would also cover magazines that carry more than 15 rounds.
Violators of the law would face a Class 1 misdemeanor charge, punishable with up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Pro-gun rights groups like the NRA assert Virginia's ban is a clear violation of the Second Amendment. They say these weapons are used for self-defense and hunting, noting that tens of millions of people own AR-15s.
Virginia Democrats behind the new law repeatedly pointed out that it doesn't stop people from owning these types of guns and large-capacity ammunition-feeding devices — if they were bought before July 1, 2026. They said the restrictions aim to help prevent gun violence, particularly mass shootings.
In late June, the US Supreme Court announced plans to take up assault weapon bans in Illinois and Connecticut. The July 28 federal court order pausing the DOJ's legal challenge to Virginia's ban says that the other cases "raise nearly identical legal challenges" to the commonwealth's.
"Staying the four pending lawsuits will support the equal and fair application of the law and prevent conflicting outcomes," Rae Pickett, Jones' communications director, said in a Wednesday statement.
Jones' office sought the pause in Washington County, where the injunction was ordered; Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Campbell signed the order on July 28. It reads in part: "The stay of this matter supports judicial economy and will conserve substantial resources of the parties."
Campbell ordered the plaintiffs, represented by state Sen. Bill Stanley (R–Franklin County), and the AG's office to file a joint report within 30 days of the US Supreme Court's rulings to explain any effect the decisions have on the case.
Pickett said that the AG's office considers the ban "constitutional," adding that it was signed into law by Gov. Abigail Spanberger to reduce gun violence.
"These protections are critical, evidence-based tools to protect public safety," she said. "We believe this legal path will produce a consistent process, and we remain confident that this lawful measure will ultimately be upheld."
Davis, with the NRA, was bullish on the legal challenges prevailing in DC.
"We're feeling incredibly confident of how that case will go in the Supreme Court, and if it goes as planned, this would have stopped this law from ever going into effect," he said
It's unclear when the US Supreme Court will hear the other AR-15 bans that will impact Virginia.
The court's next term starts in October.
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