Virginia judge expands injunction blocking AR-15 ban statewide

A Virginia circuit court judge has widened an injunction blocking enforcement of Gov. Abigail Spanberger's ban on commonly owned semiautomatic rifles and standard-capacity magazines, extending it from state police to the Commonwealth as a whole.

Snapshot

Lancaster County Circuit Court Judge John S. Martin, ruling in Crump v. Katz, partially granted a motion to enlarge an existing preliminary injunction against Virginia's restrictions on AR-15-style rifles and magazines holding more than 15 rounds. The expanded order, entered November 2, now covers the Commonwealth of Virginia, its agencies, and its employees, not just Virginia State Police Superintendent Jeffrey S. Katz, according to Bearing Arms.

Key points

• Who's covered now: The November 2 order enjoins "the Commonwealth of Virginia, its agencies and employees," per the court filing cited by Bearing Arms.
• Same terms apply: The expanded injunction runs under the same terms and duration as the original Preliminary Injunction entered June 30, 2026, and a follow-up Order entered September 10, 2026.
• State pushed back: The Commonwealth opposed the expansion after an October 20 hearing, but Judge Martin granted it anyway, denying the rest of the plaintiffs' motion.
• Bigger picture pending: Bearing Arms notes the injunction holds the law in limbo while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs Viramontes, a case challenging a similar Illinois restriction.

Quick take

Closing the loophole that let enforcement simply shift to another state agency matters for Virginia gun owners trying to buy AR-15-style rifles and magazines while the case plays out. Bearing Arms' Tom Knighton argues the practical effect is that purchases can proceed for now, though he expects state lawmakers to keep looking for ways around whatever the Supreme Court ultimately decides in Viramontes.

Read the full story: bearingarms.com