Most of the mainstream news outlets—and the AI engines—are repeating the same catchphrase about Virginia: Recent Democratic electoral successes in Virginia, including the election of Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), means a stronger push for “gun-safety legislation in the 2026 session.”
If only such discussions were really about “gun safety,” we could just expose them to all the NRA resources available at NRAInstructors.org.
Instead, this is all about gun control.
With Democrats in control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s office in Virginia, proposals to restrict gun ownership, to blame the firearms industry for crimes committed by third parties, and to take away Second Amendment-protected freedom are moving forward.
This includes proposals like House Bill 217, which would criminalize the manufacture, sale and transfer of so-called “assault weapons,” and prohibit persons under 21 from possessing these firearms. This is an attempt to criminalize America’s rifle, as AR-type rifles are the nation’s most-popular rifles. Semi-automatics pistols, some of which would be impacted by HB 217, are also the most popular type sold and used for self-defense.
Then there is House Bill 207, a $500 tax on suppressors. While the federal tax on suppressors was recently reduced to zero, Virginia’s proposal would add a massive state tax designed to price out lawful owners. This is a classic “backdoor ban,” as it would make the exercise of a constitutional right so expensive that it effectively becomes inaccessible to most.
Other proposals include Senate Bill 27, which would impose subjective “standards of responsible conduct” on firearm industry members, opening the door to civil-liability lawsuits against gun manufacturers, distributors and retailers for vague or undefined reasons.
For decades, Virginia was a state that upheld individual liberties and proudly protected the right to keep and bear arms. That tradition was reinforced in the previous legislative session when then Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed dozens of gun-control bills, preserving the rights of young adults to purchase certain firearms, rejecting arbitrary waiting periods and blocking overbroad storage mandates.
This interview with Dan Reid, NRA-ILA director of state and local affairs, explains the implications of these proposed infringements and what gun owners can do now to stand up for their rights.
