The National Rifle Association sued soon after Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation that bans the sale of “assault firearms” and “high-capacity” magazines.
The new law prohibits the sale of many popular semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns and magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
“The NRA will not sit idly by while progressive politicians strip the rights of law-abiding citizens, and our world-class legal team is locked, loaded and ready to shoot down this outrageous gun-control law,” said John Commerford, executive director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.
He called the new law a “blatant violation of Second Amendment rights.”
Ms. Spanberger said the law makes Virginians safer.
“I am signing this bill into law because firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets. We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe,” she said at the signing ceremony Thursday.
She said she had not given up on putting exceptions in the law for hunting weapons.
“While the General Assembly chose not to adopt my amendment that specifically carves out certain firearms frequently used for hunting, I will work with the patrons to clarify this language,” she said.
The new gun laws take effect on July 1.
The NRA filed the lawsuits in federal court and the Virginia state court.
Last month, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon warned Ms. Spanberger that the new gun-control laws would face a Department of Justice lawsuit.
“The Civil Rights Division will commence litigation in the event the Commonwealth of Virginia enacts certain bills that unconstitutionally limit law-abiding Americans’ individual right to bear arms,” Ms. Dhillon wrote to the governor, singling out the “assault weapon” ban as unconstitutional.
Last month, Ms. Spanberger signed four other laws restricting firearms in Virginia:
• HB19, SB160: Closing the “intimate partner loophole” by prohibiting intimate partners convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing a firearm.
• HB93, SB38: Specifying that a person subject to a protective order or convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm may transfer their firearm to a person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, who is 21 years of age or older, and who does not live in their home.
• HB40, SB323: Banning the manufacture, sale and possession of untraceable firearms without serial numbers that law enforcement cannot track, commonly known as “ghost guns.”
• HB21, SB27: Allowing firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence.
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