Update on Virginia ‘Assault Firearm’ Bans and Magazine Restrictions

Thanks to strong resistance from gun owners across the state, and a message from Harmeet Dhillon, who is the head of the Second Amendment Division of the Civil Rights Department, the Virginia gun grabbers have been set back on their heels and have relented on a few things. That doesn’t mean we can relax. That means we speak louder and force them to abide by the Constitution.

This is a blatant violation of Supreme Court precedent and it will not stand. https://t.co/hezQAkbGsE

— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) January 26, 2026

As of February 9, 2026, here is an update directly from Philip Van Cleave, President of Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL).

A group of gun bills has passed the Virginia Senate, and another group has passed the House. There are also more in progress. February 18th is a cutoff. Currently, three of the bills are being revised due to pressure from gun owners. None of these bills has been stopped, which is what the VCDL and gun owners will ultimately want. For now, some concessions are being discussed by the gun grabbers.

The house version of the so-called “assault firearm” ban is HB 217, and although it bans the purchase or resale of those firearms, it will allow you to keep the firearms you already own. After significant pressure, the Virginia gun grabbers were forced to put the “grandfather” clause back in place. You won’t be able to buy any new “assault firearms” after July 1st of this year, nor will you be able to sell the ones that you have if the legislation is ratified with the current language. In essence, you’re frozen in place.

The gun grabbers are considering walking back their ban on 18 to 20-year-olds’ possession of “assault firearms.” The latest revisions have also added a grandfather clause for possession of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds.

Spanberger and her gang of gun grabbers thought they would get away with quietly removing the grandfather clause, but they were met with resistance that corrected their behavior.

SB749 brings with it all the same elements as HB217, with the exception of a 15-round magazine capacity limitation. So, you will still be able to buy and sell magazines that hold up to 15 rounds. This will likely be a point of contention between the House and Senate. We will see how this turns out.

SB727 still restricts the public carry of rifles and shotguns classified as “assault firearms,” but it walked back the public carry ban on handguns that could be classified as “assault firearms.”

Philip Van Cleave, President of Virginia Citizens Defense League, had this to say to AmmoLand:

“While pressure from gun owners has caused the Senate and the House to backpedal on some of these bills, and they are better than they were, we still do not support these bills. They are still wrong. Taking away guns like these from anybody is wrong and we will continue to fully oppose these bills until they are defeated and/or not signed into law.”

The recent concessions forced out of Richmond did not come from goodwill or compromise—they came from organized resistance. Virginia gun owners spoke up, applied sustained pressure, and exposed the legal and political weaknesses behind these proposals. That pressure worked, at least for now.

But make no mistake: a bad bill that is slightly less bad is still a bad bill.

What we are seeing is not a change of heart, but a tactical retreat. The same lawmakers who quietly attempted to strip grandfather clauses and criminalize common firearms are still pushing legislation that flatly contradicts Supreme Court precedent and treats the exercise of a fundamental right as a problem to be managed. As long as these bills remain alive, the threat remains real.

The goal has never been temporary concessions—it is the total defeat of these unconstitutional laws.

As VCDL President Philip Van Cleave made clear, gun owners cannot accept half-measures, freezes on future ownership, or age-based bans dressed up as “compromises.” Rights delayed, restricted, or rationed are rights denied.

Crossover day is approaching fast, and the coming weeks will determine whether these bills collapse under scrutiny or advance toward a governor’s desk. The outcome will depend entirely on whether Virginia’s gun owners stay engaged, vocal, and unrelenting.

This fight is far from over—and silence now would undo everything gained so far. AmmoLand will continue tracking every move, every amendment, and every vote. Stay alert. Stay involved.

Stay tuned. More to come on this in the upcoming weeks.

About Dan Wos, Author – Good Gun Bad Guy

Dan Wos is available for Press Commentary. For more information, contact PR HERE

Dan Wos is a nationally recognized 2nd Amendment advocate, Host of The Loaded Mic, and Author of the “GOOD GUN BAD GUY” book series. He speaks at events, is a contributing writer for many publications, and can be found on radio stations across the country. Dan has been a guest on Newsmax, the Sean Hannity Show, Real America’s Voice, and several others. Speaking on behalf of gun-rights, Dan exposes the strategies of the anti-gun crowd and explains their mission to disarm law-abiding American gun-owners.