Virginia’s sweeping package of gun control bills just took a sharp turn for the worse. What was already one of the most aggressive collections of firearm legislation introduced in a single state has now been amended to include outright bans on magazine possession, eliminating previous grandfather clauses and dramatically expanding the scope of restrictions.

At the center of the controversy is Senate Bill 749, the companion to House Bill 27. While earlier versions focused on banning future sales, recent amendments now criminalize possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds. Gun owners would be forced to surrender or remove legally purchased property from the state—with no compensation—raising serious constitutional concerns.

At the same time, lawmakers shifted grandfather language to so-called “assault weapons,” allowing current owners to keep them if possessed before July 1, 2026, while banning all future availability. Critics argue the broad definitions used in the bills would impact more than half of the firearms commonly owned in Virginia.

With Governor Spanberger signaling full support and urging lawmakers to send the bills to her desk, opponents warn these measures directly conflict with Supreme Court rulings such as Bruen, Heller, and McDonald. Gun rights advocates are urging Virginians to contact legislators and support legal organizations, warning that court challenges may be the last line of defense against what they see as an unprecedented assault on the Second Amendment.