Virginia House Goes All-In on Gun Control — A Warning Sign for Minnesota
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With just days remaining before Virginia’s legislative crossover deadline, the Democrat-controlled Virginia House of Delegates pushed aggressively forward with a sweeping slate of gun control bills—offering a preview of what anti-2A lawmakers hope to replicate nationwide.
On Thursday, the House—where Democrats hold a 64–36 majority—approved at least six anti-gun measures and sent them to the state Senate. If ultimately approved, the bills would land on the desk of Abigail Spanberger, a former Moms Demand Action volunteer who campaigned in 2025 on a “tough on guns” platform. As we’ve covered previously at 2 If By Sea Tactical, this week’s votes mark an escalation—not a surprise.
The most consequential bill to advance is House Bill 217, which bans a broad range of commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns, imposes arbitrary magazine capacity limits, and criminalizes possession of the banned firearms and magazines by anyone under 21. The measure passed comfortably, 58–34.
Violations would carry penalties of up to one year in jail and $2,500 in fines. House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore (R-Scott), an attorney, warned colleagues that the bill is a constitutional landmine. “To call these rifles common is an understatement,” Kilgore said, noting that the Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized common use as the cornerstone of Second Amendment protection under New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.
Other House-passed measures now heading to the Virginia Senate include:
HB 21 – Opens the firearms industry to broad civil liability, inviting lawfare designed to regulate the industry out of existence
HB 40 – Bans and regulates unfinished frames and receiver
HB 110 – Makes it harder for law-abiding citizens to keep a firearm in their vehicle
HB 871 – Establishes a mandatory gun-lock law
Meanwhile, the Virginia Senate is considering its own list of anti-2A bills, including SB 763, an 11% excise “sin tax” on firearms, ammunition, and accessories—funneled into a so-called Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund. Conservation and sporting groups have warned the tax would price everyday Americans out of lawful ownership.
In a rare bright spot, HB 207, which would have imposed a new $500 state tax on suppressors—just weeks after the federal government eliminated the $200 NFA tax—has stalled in committee. But as we’ve seen repeatedly, stalled bills can resurface quickly.
Virginia’s legislative blitz matters well beyond Richmond. Many of the same policies—semi-auto bans, magazine limits, industry liability schemes, firearm taxes, and age-based prohibitions—are openly supported by current Minnesota political leadership. Several of these concepts have already been introduced or debated at the state level in St. Paul.
At the federal level, Amy Klobuchar has previously floated and supported similar gun-control proposals in Congress, including bans and expanded civil liability. If those ideas gain traction nationally, Minnesota would almost certainly be among the first states to adopt them. The lesson from Virginia is clear: what passes in one blue-controlled state rarely stays there.
At 2 If By Sea Tactical, we don’t just sell firearms—we track the laws, court rulings, and political movements that affect your ability to own them. As Southern Minnesota’s Premier Indoor Range and Store, we’re also a trusted source for no-nonsense Second Amendment news and analysis—so gun owners aren’t caught flat-footed when policy shifts turn into real-world restrictions. Virginia’s fight is not isolated. Minnesota could be next. That’s why staying informed, staying engaged, and continuing to exercise your rights matters more than ever.
Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world. As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube and Rumble channels and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance.
Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay ready.
