Minnesota Firearm News

Virginia lawmakers have passed one of the nation’s most sweeping gun control packages, including a ban on many semi-automatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines. With the legislation now headed to the governor’s desk, gun rights organizations are preparing major legal challenges that could shape the future of the Second Amendment nationwide.

Virginia lawmakers have passed sweeping gun control legislation, including a ban on many commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and new restrictions on magazines and the firearms industry. Gun rights groups warn the measures could spark major court challenges and signal similar proposals in other states.

New FBI background check data shows Americans continue buying firearms at elevated levels, with over 1.26 million likely retail sales in February 2026. In states like Virginia, where lawmakers are advancing new gun control measures, purchases surged dramatically as gun owners moved to secure firearms before potential restrictions take effect.

West Virginia is advancing legislation to strengthen constitutional carry and shield gun owners from future federal overreach, while Virginia lawmakers are moving forward with sweeping firearm bans and new restrictions. The stark contrast highlights how state-level politics increasingly shape the direction of Second Amendment rights nationwide.

New Mexico’s sweeping semi-automatic firearm ban, SB 17, has stalled after failing to advance before the legislative deadline—a significant victory for gun owners and small businesses who mobilized in strong opposition. While the proposal is effectively dead for this session, sponsors have signaled they intend to revisit similar legislation in the future, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and engagement.

Virginia lawmakers are advancing a semi-automatic firearm and magazine ban despite RAND’s decade-long research review finding the evidence that such bans reduce violent crime is “inconclusive.” With federal studies reaching similar conclusions and rifles accounting for a small fraction of homicides, the debate raises broader questions about whether policy is being driven by data—or politics.