Virginia attorney general vows appeal after judge blocks assault weapons ban [View all]

Source: WVEC-TV Notfolk, VA

Published: 6:58 AM EDT June 26, 2026
Updated: 7:25 AM EDT June 26, 2026


Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones says the Commonwealth will appeal a judge's decision to temporarily block enforcement of the state's new assault weapons ban, which was scheduled to take effect July 1. On Thursday, a judge in Lancaster County issued a temporary injunction in Crump v. Katz, preventing Virginia State Police from implementing or enforcing the new law while the legal challenge moves forward.

The law would have prohibited the manufacture, sale and transfer of certain semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity magazines beginning July 1. The law did not require people who already legally own covered firearms to surrender them. It also exempted manually operated firearms, including bolt-action, pump-action, lever-action and slide-action firearms, as well as antique and permanently disabled firearms.

In a statement Thursday, Jones called the ruling "disappointing" and said the Commonwealth plans to move quickly to challenge it. "Gun violence is the key driver of violent crime in this Commonwealth and nation, and assault weapons are designed intentionally to inflict maximum damage in a matter of seconds. The assault weapons ban passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor will save lives in the Commonwealth and is compliant with the Constitution of Virginia.

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. We will continue to vigorously defend Virginia's assault weapons ban and magazine capacity restrictions and uphold the laws designed to keep Virginians safe."

Read more: https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/virginia/virginia-attorney-general-vows-appeal-after-judge-blocks-assault-weapons-ban/291-55c1b570-3f79-4a96-8051-47e7cd388046